Comparison of approached

• Comparing approaches views on development

  The psychodynamic approach presents the most coherent theory, with aged stages. However, little is said about further development after the Genital stage. Stage theories within Cognitive have contributed to understanding of development e.g. development of schema. Maturation within the biological approach is an important principle as a childs physiological state changes. Humanists recognize the importance of childhood and love in development. The Behaviourist approach does not provide stages but sees the process as continuous and occurring at any age.
• Nature Vs Nurture in the approaches

  Behaviourists view children as blank slates at birth, and learn through association and reinforcement. the biological approach argues we have a genetic blueprint influenced by environment. Frued thought much of behaviour was biological but also saw the role of parents as fundamental. Similarly, humanists regard others as having a critical impact on self-concept. Cognitive psychologists see information processing ability as innate but refined through environment.
• Reductionism of the Approaches

  Behaviourism is reductionist as it breaks behaviour into stimulus-response. The Biological approach is reductionist as it explains behaviour at the scale of a gene or neuron. The Psychodynamic approach is reductionist as it reduces behaviour to sexual drives and biological instincts. The Cognitive approach has been accused of machine reductionism. The humanistic approach is least reductionist as it considers the whole person as well interaction.
• Determinism of the Approaches

  The behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as determined by external factors we cannot control (genetic determinism). The psychodynamic approach has psychic determinism, the unconscious controls us. The cognitive approach suggests we choose our own thoughts but only within what we have learnt and experienced. (soft determanism) Behaviourists suggests we are influenced by our environment but we also have some influence. (reciprocal determanism) Humanists state we have complete free will.
• Each Approaches explanation and treatment of behaviour

  Behaviourists use behaviour therapies such as systematic desensitization, conditioning new responses. Social learning has little application to treatment but principles have been used to explain negative behaviours. Freud introduced psychoanalysis. Cognitive therapy I smore effective and applicable, esp in combination with CBT. Humanistic therapy (counselling). Biological approach proposes drug therapy regulating imbalances in the brain.