Behaviorism and Humanism: A Comparison of Psychological Perspectives
Behaviorism: Based on scientific methods to study human behavior, it proposes to analyze observable actions in particular situations to explain behavior, including the environment and experiences that determine it. Human behavior is the unconscious side; personality does not exist. John B. Watson defended the idea of a psychology that considered behavior valuable in itself as an object of study. He studied the adjustment of organisms to their environments, specifically the particular stimuli or
Read MoreMind-Brain Identity Theory and Connectionist Models in Cognitive Science
Logical Criticism of the Mind-Brain Identity Theory
If we speak of identity between mental events (EM) and physical events (EF), then both should be governed by Leibniz’s laws:
- Law of Indiscernibility of Identicals: If two things cannot be distinguished, they are identical. Ax Ay [(x = y) -> (Fx <-> Py)]
- Law of Identity of Indiscernibles: If two things are identical, then they are indistinguishable. Ax Ay [AP (Px <-> Py) -> (x = y)]
Under these laws, if EM = EF, then they should have
Read MoreExploring the Science of Psychology: Mind, Behavior, and Perception
What is Psychology?
Psychology, derived from the Greek words “psyche” (mind) and “logos” (study), is the science that explores the mind, behavior, and thinking processes of living organisms, primarily humans. It also examines the behavior of other organisms.
Behavior
Behavior encompasses how we interact with the world—our actions and reactions. It has two key aspects:
- Observable Behavior: Actions visible to others.
- Subjective Consciousness: Internal thoughts and feelings not directly observable.
A
Read MoreUnderstanding Child Psychology and Development
Frequently Asked Questions in Child Psychology
Factors Affecting Mental Functions
Several factors can influence an individual’s mental functions:
- Parental psychopathology
- Family dynamics (individual characteristics or temperamental factors)
- Environmental stress
Freud’s Processes
Processes like memory, reasoning, and language enable us to interact with reality, understand its mechanisms, and recognize causal relationships.
Object Relations Theory
Object relations theory posits that all behavior involves interaction
Read MoreMotivation, Climate, and Satisfaction in Organizations
Motivation
Motivation is the effort individuals exert to achieve organizational goals. It depends on the perceived value of the reward and the likelihood of attaining it. High motivation doesn’t guarantee good performance; training and role perception also play a role.
Locke’s Goal Setting Theory
This theory emphasizes the importance of specific goals. Workers with clear goals perform better than those with vague or no goals. Motivating goals must be challenging yet attainable, specific, and provide
Read MoreEducational Psychology: Learning, Cognition, and Strategies
1. Purpose and Content of Educational Psychology
A) Purpose of Study
Educational psychology examines student characteristics and factors that influence the teaching-learning process. Teachers organize and structure learning experiences to achieve desired changes, providing meaningful and engaging learning opportunities.
The object of study of educational psychology (and the teacher’s competence) is to know:
- What to teach: Curriculum content, procedural and attitudinal skills.
- How to teach: Learning procedures