1.2. Explain how psychological perspectives inform understanding of behaviour

This guide will help you answer 1.2. Explain how psychological perspectives inform understanding of behaviour.

Psychology helps us make sense of why people behave the way they do. It plays a major role in health and social care because it helps practitioners understand the needs of individuals. Several key psychological approaches, or perspectives, explore different reasons behind behaviour. Understanding these perspectives helps workers develop strategies to support others effectively.

This guide will look at the major psychological perspectives and how they help human behaviour.

The Behaviourist Approach

The behaviourist approach focuses on how environmental factors shape behaviour. It assumes that behaviour is learned through experiences, particularly through reinforcement and punishment. This perspective avoids looking into thoughts or emotions because they cannot be scientifically measured.

Key concepts in this approach include:

• Classical Conditioning: This theory explains behaviour as a learned response to a stimulus. Ivan Pavlov’s experiments with dogs showed how they associated the sound of a bell with food, ultimately causing them to salivate at the sound.
• Operant Conditioning: B.F. Skinner explored how rewards (positive reinforcement) and punishments (negative reinforcement or penalties) influence actions. For example, a child might tidy their room if promised a sweet.

How this informs behaviour:

In health and social care, understanding learned behaviours can shape supportive strategies. For instance:

• A care worker could use positive reinforcement to encourage an individual with dementia to eat meals.
• Identifying triggers in environments (like noise or bright light) and adjusting them can help manage challenging behaviours in children or adults.

The Psychodynamic Approach

The psychodynamic perspective, introduced by Sigmund Freud, examines how unconscious thoughts and early life experiences influence behaviour. Freud believed that our childhood experiences shape our development and decisions later in life.

Important ideas within this approach include:

• The Unconscious Mind: Many thoughts and feelings exist in the unconscious—the part of the mind we are not aware of. These can influence actions or feelings.
• Defence Mechanisms: When dealing with stress or trauma, people use defence mechanisms like denial or repression to cope.
• Early Experiences: Freud argued that unresolved conflicts from childhood could result in behaviours or mental health concerns during adulthood.

How this informs behaviour:

This perspective is useful in understanding behaviours linked to trauma. For example:

• A counsellor might explore how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have shaped an individual’s fear of forming relationships.
• Understanding defence mechanisms can help workers recognise why a person might refuse help or act out.

The Cognitive Approach

The cognitive perspective focuses on internal mental processes like thinking, memory, and decision-making. This approach studies how people perceive and respond to the world around them.

Key ideas include:

• Schemas: These are mental frameworks that help individuals understand and respond to their surroundings. For example, someone forms a “schema” of how a doctor behaves, expecting professionalism and care in medical settings.
• Cognitive Distortions: Sometimes, thoughts can be distorted. For instance, a person with anxiety may always expect the worst, which is termed as “catastrophising.”
• Information Processing: Humans think like computers, taking in information, processing it, and responding.

How this informs behaviour:

In health and social care, understanding thought processes helps practitioners challenge negative thinking patterns. For example:

• Providing tailored cognitive exercises can help someone recovering from a stroke regain memory.
• Supporting a young person with social anxiety might involve helping them identify and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

The Humanistic Approach

This perspective focuses on personal growth, self-fulfilment, and achieving potential. It considers that everyone has the ability to make their own choices and change their lives.

Key principles include:

• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Abraham Maslow explained that behaviour is influenced by the drive to meet five levels of needs. These range from basic needs (like food and safety) to higher needs (like esteem and self-actualisation).
• Self-Concept: How a person sees themselves affects how they act. For instance, someone with low self-esteem may avoid social situations because they feel unworthy.
• Unconditional Positive Regard: Carl Rogers argued that individuals thrive when they are accepted and understood.

How this informs behaviour:

A humanistic approach focuses on helping people meet their needs or build self-confidence. For example:

• In care settings, ensuring someone has their basic needs met—like food, warmth, and shelter—can help them feel secure and ready to engage.
• Encouraging acceptance and positive regard can support someone struggling with low self-worth to take steps toward personal goals.

The Biological Approach

The biological perspective looks at how the brain, body, and genetics influence behaviour. It assumes behaviour is inherited or shaped by physical factors.

Examples include:

• Brain Function: Different areas of the brain control actions or emotions. For instance, damage to the frontal lobe can result in impulsive decisions.
• Neurotransmitters: These chemical messengers, like serotonin, affect mood and behaviour. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression.
• Genetics: Traits passed down from parents may influence characteristics or behaviours. For instance, some mental health conditions, like schizophrenia, can run in families.

How this informs behaviour:

Care workers use this perspective to adapt support plans when biological factors are involved. For instance:

• Understanding that dementia is a result of changes in the brain helps workers provide structured routines to reduce confusion and anxiety.
• Acknowledging a biochemical imbalance in depression means professionals may recommend therapy combined with medication.

The Social Learning Approach

The social learning perspective focuses on how we learn behaviour by observing others. Developed by Albert Bandura, it highlights the importance of role models and imitation.

Key ideas include:

• Observational Learning: Behaviour is learned by watching others and imitating them. For example, a child may copy good manners from a caregiver.
• Role Models: People are more likely to imitate someone they admire or see as similar to themselves.
• Vicarious Reinforcement: Watching others being rewarded for actions can influence behaviour. For example, seeing a colleague being praised for hard work may motivate another worker to do the same.

How this informs behaviour:

This perspective helps workers understand peer influence and social patterns. For example:

• If a group of young people in care imitate risky behaviours, identifying the role model within the group can help break the cycle.
• Using positive role modelling by staff in residential settings can encourage better behaviour among residents.

Understanding Different Perspectives

Each perspective offers unique insights into why people behave as they do. Most behaviours result from a mix of influences, so using a combination of these approaches often provides the best way to help individuals.

Health and social care workers benefit from this knowledge because:

• They can adapt their support to the individual’s needs.
• They gain a deeper appreciation for the challenges someone may face.
• They develop effective interventions to improve outcomes.

For example:

A child in care may act out aggressively. Using the behaviourist approach, a worker might identify that the behaviour receives attention (even if negative). From a psychodynamic angle, this behaviour may stem from abandonment issues. Combining these views, the worker could offer consistent care and reward positive actions to address both the emotional and practical need for attention.

Final Thoughts

Psychological perspectives offer valuable tools for understanding behaviour. Each has specific strengths depending on the situation. By applying this knowledge, health and social care workers can offer more thoughtful, person-centred approaches to care. Recognising the reasons behind someone’s actions allows you to develop practical solutions that improve both their experience and your effectiveness in your role.