Behavioral Psychology Paper

Behaviors

1. A person commits a mass murder, walking into a crowded restaurant and opening fire with an assault rifle. Psychoanalytical

What causes a person to lose all sense of reason and commit atrocities or unthinkable crimes? What experiences drive behaviors that allow an individual to justify such rage and carnage. These are only a couple of the questions which Psychoanalytical Psychology seek to explain. Since Sigmund Freud first pioneered theories of conscious and unconscious motives, known as Psychoanalysis, psychologists have been using his techniques to try and answer some of these questions. Seeking answers to behavior is as old as our history. However, Freud pioneered working processes and theories employed to analyze what

For example, someone considers how to ask their boss for a raise. Another situation, which brings this into context, could be, asking what the best way is to tell a loved one that there is problem in the relationship, stemming from a behavior that is considered detrimental. Like the scenario posed, looking at the possible outcomes to a confrontation falls within the realm of behavioral psychology. Therefore, this particular aspect focuses on how people interact with one another and the determining factors that govern their reactions. “As psychology has matured, it has provided more and more information about the forces that govern behavior.” (Weiten, 2014) Although this seems broad based, this aspect of psychological study takes into account the influences of culture, experience, and other external stimuli, which directly affect human behavior. In order to understand why someone’s response to a particular situation, such as, losing their temper when concern for their well-being is clearly expressed, involves a need to understand behavior and the root causes. Therefore, I propose that Behavioral Psychology best fits this particular

What causes us to be attracted to another person? Why did one party decide to propose a date and the other accept? The behavior exhibited by both parties appears to be based on attraction and each individual need to be recognized. From their initial interaction, a common interest or social commonality, could be the cause for both parties to seek further connection. Although, our initial interest in another person begins with some form of desire, there are underlying causes which perpetuate continued relations. Such as, a consideration of how getting to know someone else benefits us personally. Whether that leads to, in this case plans for a future date, additional social interaction depends on the perceived future benefits formed by both participants. This harkens to theories developed by both Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, the preeminent Humanist Psychologists, who argued “human behavior is governed by each individual’s sense of self, or self-concept” (Weiten, 2014). Personal gain and fulfillment are directly related to self-awareness and the need for personal growth or gain. Without fully observing the interaction of both parties but based on the information provided, I would argue that the study of Humanistic Psychology best fits this