psychology key assumptions

• social area 


  Behaviour is influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others. Therefore, all human behaviour occurs in a social context (even in the absence of others)
• cognitive area


  The mind works in a way similar to a computer: inputting, storing and retrieving data. The way in which the mind processes information influences our behaviour.
• biological


  All that is psychological is first physiological. The mind resides in the brain and so all thoughts, feelings and behaviours have a biological cause, such as hormones, genetics, brain structure or neurochemicals.
• biological 2 


  much behaviour has a genetic, hereditary basis and genes have evolved over a million years to adapt our physiology to our environment
• developmental


  Behaviour is an ongoing process that occurs throughout the lifespan and therefore people change and develop with age
• individual differences


  Every individual is genetically unique and this uniqueness is displayed through their behaviour. So everyone behaves differently.
• psychodynamic assumption


  Personality differences can be traced back to the way the early conflicts between desire and experience were handled and therefore childhood is a critical period in the development of our behaviour and personality.
• behaviourist approach


  All Behaviour is learnt from the environment and biological factors are insignificant in influencing how people behave.
• behaviourist approach


  All Behaviour is learnt from the environment and biological factors are insignificant in influencing how people behave.