Comparison of Approaches

in terms of child development - psychodynamic approach presents most coherent theory of development, tying concepts and processes to specific psychosexual stages that are determined by age (however, Frued saw very little development once the child enters genital stage in teen years)

Stage theories within cognitive apporach contribute to unerstanding of child development - i.e. as part of intellectual development children form increasingly complex schemas as they age.

Maturation is an important principle within the biological approach - genetically determined changes in physiological status influence psychological and behavioural characteristics.

Humanistic psychologists see development of the self as ongoing throughout life - child`s relationship with parents is seen as a key determinant of psychological health.

Behaviourist approach and social learnin theory don`t offer coherent stage theories of development but instead see the processess underpinning learning as continuous, occuring at any age

Biological approach and both learning approaches are most contradictory in belief. Behaviourists see babies as 'blank slates' at birth and suggest all behaviour comes about through learned associations (reinforcement, or in the case of social learning theory, observation and imitation). Biological approach argues that behaviour is the result of genetics inherited from parents.

other approaches less easy to categorise. While Freud thought much of our behaviour was driven by biological instincts, he also saw relationships with parents as playing a fundamnetal role in future development.

humanists regard parents, friends and wider society as having a critical impact on a person`s self-concept.

Although cognitive psychologists recognise that many of our informaiton processing abilities and schemas are innate, they would also point to the fact that these are constantly refined through experience.

reductionism - human behaviour can be best explained by breaking it down into constituent parts. holism - things are best explained by looking at the interplay and interaction of many different factors.

Behaviourism - reductionist - breaks up complex behaviour into stimulus-response units for testing in the lab. Biological approach - reductionist - explains human behaviour and psychological states at the level of the gene or neuron. Psychodynamic approach reduces most behaviour to the influence of sexual drives and biological instincts - though Freud`s argument that personality is a dynamic interaction between the three parts of personality is viewed as more holistic. Like behaviourists, social learning theorists reduce complex learning to a handful of key processes (imitation, modelling etc), though they do at least place emphasis on cognitive factors that mediate learning, and how these interact with external influences.

cognitive approach seen as machine reductionist as it presents people as information processing systems and ignores the impact of human emotion on behaviour.

Humanistic approach - holistic - involves investigating all aspects of the individual, including the effects of interaction with others and wider society.

Determinism - all behaviour has an internal or external cause and is thus predictable.

Behaviourism - all behaviour is determined by external influences we are unable to control

Biological Approach - genetic determinism - most behaviour determined by innate influences

Psychodynamic - psychic determinism - we cannot know the unconscious forces that drive our behaviour, and these are simply rationalized by the conscious mind

Cognitive - we are the 'choosers' of thoughts and behaviour, but these choices can only operate in the limits of what we know / experienced

Social Learning Theory - reciprocal determinism - as well as being influenced by the environment, we extert influence on it through behaviour we choose to partake in

Humanism - humans have free will and operate as active agents who determine their own development

Behaviourist - abnormality arises from maladaptive / faulty learning (inappropriate / destructive patterns of behaviour have been reinforced). Behaviour therapies, such as systematic desensitization (takes symptom-based approach) have been applied successfully to treat phobias. Social Learning theory - little application to treatment, but principles of modelling and observational learning have explained how behaviour such as aggression has been learned through the influence of dysfunctional role models

Psychodynamic - Freud saw anxiety disorders as emerging from unconscious conflict, childhood trauma and overuse of defense mechanisms. Psychoanalysis has been successful but not in all cases, requiring significant patient input in terms of time and ability to talk / reflect on emotions - Much more effective and efficient treatment is cognitive therapy (especialy combined with behavioural therapy such as CBT) for the treatment of an illness like depression. it aims to locate and eradicate faulty thinking (assumed root cause of maladaptive behaviour). Humanistic therapy (counselling) is also effective - Roger`s idea that closing the gap between self-concept and ideal-self stimulates personal growth

Biological approach - revolutionized treatment of mental disorders through development of drug therapy that regulates chemical imbalances within the brain