psychological+perspectives


 * Behavioral** - focuses on learned behaviors; concerned with how behaviors are learned and reinfoced; used in mental health settings where therapists and counselors use these techniques to explain and treat a variety of illnesses


 * Behavior Genetics** - focuses on the role of genetics in animals' behaviors; often associated with the "nature vs. nurture" debate


 * Cognitive**- focuses on mental processes such as memory, thinking, problem solving, language and decision-making


 * Evolutionary**- takes the basic principles of evolution, including natural selection, and applies them to psychological phenomena; suggests that these mental processes exist because they serve an evolutionary purpose – they aid in survival and reproduction


 * Neuroscience**- evaluates the inside the individual, function of the brain and other systems of the body and how they effect behavior. Problems of the body and body chemistry can have profound effects on the body


 * Psychodynamic**- emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind, early childhood experiences, and interpersonal relationships to explain human behavior and to treat people suffering from mental illnesses


 * Social-Cultural**- stresses the importance of social norms and culture; proposes that children learn behavior through problem-solving interactions with other children and adults