Key Perspectives In Psychology

There are three major themes, or key perspectives, that occur throughout the field of Psychology. One such theme concerns stability versus change. The question asked is: “To what extent do we remain stable over time, and to what extent do we change?” Psychology addresses changes over time in cognitive abilities, physical functioning, and personality.
A second theme is nature versus nurture. The question asked is: “To what extent are various aspects of our behavior shaped by inherited tendencies and to what extent are they learned?”
The third theme is rationality versus irrationality. Is it human nature for people to act rationally or irrationally in certain situations? Psychologists ask the question, “Why?”
The key perspectives in
Psychodynamic perspective focusing on the role of hidden and often unconscious processes; and
7. Cultural or multicultural perspective where the focus is on the role of social and cultural factors and especially on the differences between cultural, ethnic, gender, sexual preference, and racial groups.
In summary, the important concept is that human behavior is highly complex and is influenced by many different factors. Therefore, any aspect of behavior can be examined from these many different perspectives.
The knowledge gathered by psychologists rests firmly on the scientific method and not just on common sense. The adoption of the scientific method makes psychology a science. The phrase, scientific method, covers the systematic gathering of data in an objective manner. The four basic rules by which all scientists, and psychologists included, pursue are listed on this slide. They include:
Accuracy: A commitment to gathering and evaluating information in a precise and error-free manor;
Objectivity: A commitment to obtaining and evaluating information free from bias;
Skepticism: A commitment to accepting findings as accurate only after verified many times by many scientists;
For instance, clinical psychologists help individuals deal with emotional and psychological problems, whereas industrial/ organizational psychologists focus on solving many practical problems relating to work.

In contrast, the experimental method or experimental psychologists deal with strategy centering around intervention. Specifically, the scientist systematically changes one variable, and the effects of these changes on one or more other variables are carefully measured.
A research method in which researchers systematically alter one or more variables, the independent variable, in order to determine whether such changes influence some aspect of behavior, the dependent variable, is called the experimental method of research. The experimental method in psychology involves two