Prominent psychological theories

Prominent psychological theories Psychodynamic Theory: ● Key Figure: Sigmund Freud ● Key Concepts: ● Unconscious mind influences behavior. ● The mind is divided into three parts: the id, ego, and superego. ● Psychoanalysis is a method of exploring the unconscious. Behavioral Theory: ● Key Figures: John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner ● Key Concepts: ● Behavior is learned through conditioning (classical and operant). ● Emphasizes observable behaviors and their consequences. ● Environmental stimuli shape behavior. Cognitive Theory: ● Key Figures: Jean Piaget, Albert Bandura ● Key Concepts: ● Focuses on mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving. ● Cognitive development occurs in stages. ● Social learning theory emphasizes observational learning. Humanistic Theory: ● Key Figures: Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers ● Key Concepts: ● Emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and fulfillment of human potential. ● People have free will and the ability to make conscious choices. ● Client-centered therapy is a humanistic therapeutic approach. Biological (Neuroscience) Theory: ● Key Concepts: ● Examines the biological basis of behavior. ● Focuses on the role of the brain, neurotransmitters, and genetics. ● Neuroscience methods, such as brain imaging, are used to study behavior. Evolutionary Psychology: ● Key Concepts: ● Focuses on how human behaviors and traits have evolved to enhance survival and reproduction.

● Emphasizes the adaptive functions of behavior. Social-Cultural Theory: ● Key Figures: Lev Vygotsky ● Key Concepts: ● Emphasizes the influence of social and cultural factors on development. ● Zone of proximal development highlights the range of tasks a learner can perform with help. Ecological Systems Theory: ● Key Figure: Urie Bronfenbrenner ● Key Concepts: ● Examines the interconnected influences of various environmental systems on an individual's development. ● Microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem are key components. Trait Theory: ● Key Concepts: ● Focuses on identifying and measuring personality traits. ● Traits are relatively stable characteristics that influence behavior. Attachment Theory: ● Key Figures: John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth ● Key Concepts: ● Examines the importance of early emotional bonds (attachments) between caregivers and infants. ● Secure and insecure attachment styles influence social and emotional development. Social Cognitive Theory: ● Key Figure: Albert Bandura ● Key Concepts: ● Emphasizes the role of observational learning and modeling in behavior. ● Reciprocal determinism highlights the interaction between personal factors, behavior, and the environment. Information Processing Theory: ● Key Concepts: ● Compares the mind to a computer, focusing on how information is processed. ● Examines cognitive processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.