Using Life Theoretical Perspectives to Explain Helping Behaviour.
USING LIFE THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES TO EXPLAIN HELPING BEHAVIOUR.
A theory, according to Lahey (2003), is a tentative explanation of facts and relationships in Science. Mylers (1995) also defines a theory as an integrated set of principles that organize and predicts observable behaviours or events. Also a theory is a comprehensive explanation of natural phenomena which leads to accurate prediction. In Psychology, there are various theoretical perspectives. They are the learning (behavioral) theory, Psychoanalytical theory, Humanistic theory, Cognitive theory, Biological theory, Evolutionary theory and Socio- cultural theory. Helping behaviour is a desirable behaviour in the society. We can use the various perspectives to explain helping behaviour. According to the learning (behavioral) theory by J.B Watson, we are the products of learning and associations. We are the end results of all the different events we have been exposed to throughout life, the types of responses we have made to them and the consequences of making those responses thus either rewards or punishments. J.B Watson was an early behaviorist, but one of the most famous recent behaviorists is B.F Skinner and he believed that we are controlled by the environment in the sense that we become whatever the environment forces us to be. Using this to explain helping behaviour we can say that if a person is rewarded for his or her helping behaviour he or she would keep to helping people. For instance, Jeffrey helps an old lady to cross the street whenever he meets her. The old lady gives Jeffrey toffees whenever he helps her. Therefore Jeffrey helps anybody he sees because he knows he would be rewarded for his actions. Psychoanalytical theory by Sigmund Freud is perhaps the most interesting as well as controversial of all the theories of psychology. Freud developed a theory that centered on sexual and aggressive impulses that are hidden in our unconscious minds from
A theory, according to Lahey (2003), is a tentative explanation of facts and relationships in Science. Mylers (1995) also defines a theory as an integrated set of principles that organize and predicts observable behaviours or events. Also a theory is a comprehensive explanation of natural phenomena which leads to accurate prediction. In Psychology, there are various theoretical perspectives. They are the learning (behavioral) theory, Psychoanalytical theory, Humanistic theory, Cognitive theory, Biological theory, Evolutionary theory and Socio- cultural theory. Helping behaviour is a desirable behaviour in the society. We can use the various perspectives to explain helping behaviour. According to the learning (behavioral) theory by J.B Watson, we are the products of learning and associations. We are the end results of all the different events we have been exposed to throughout life, the types of responses we have made to them and the consequences of making those responses thus either rewards or punishments. J.B Watson was an early behaviorist, but one of the most famous recent behaviorists is B.F Skinner and he believed that we are controlled by the environment in the sense that we become whatever the environment forces us to be. Using this to explain helping behaviour we can say that if a person is rewarded for his or her helping behaviour he or she would keep to helping people. For instance, Jeffrey helps an old lady to cross the street whenever he meets her. The old lady gives Jeffrey toffees whenever he helps her. Therefore Jeffrey helps anybody he sees because he knows he would be rewarded for his actions. Psychoanalytical theory by Sigmund Freud is perhaps the most interesting as well as controversial of all the theories of psychology. Freud developed a theory that centered on sexual and aggressive impulses that are hidden in our unconscious minds from