Psy 203 Foundations of Psychology - Perspective Paper

Perspective Paper

Wendy Hernandez

PSY/203 Foundations of Psychology

May 17, 2016

Tricia Ferre

Introduction

Why are we the we are? How is it that even though we have two or even three individuals created by the same parents, each are different? Are we born with all of our characteristic traits? Or do we learn them from our environment? There have been many theories on how to answer these questions. The two most popular theories on this subject are the social-cognitive perspective and the humanistic perspective.

Social-Cognitive Perspective

“The social-cognitive perspective is a contemporary learning-based model that emphasizes the roles of cognitive and environmental factors in determining behavior” (University of Phoenix, 2016, p.424).  The theory is based on the belief that behavior does not come through cognitive and social aspects of behavior. Variables such as our surrounding, our values and the observations we make an impact who we become. The concept derives from the idea that we do not act on what happens around us but on what happens to us.

Psychologist Julian Rotter

Julian Rotter believed that in order to understand or predict a person’s behavior, involves knowing their past in addition to knowing about their expectations and subjective values. The importance placed on the knowledge of a person’s expectancies and subjective values provides insight on their thought process and motivation.

Expectation is a feeling or belief about how successful, good, etc., someone or something will be” (“Expectation,” 2015). In other words, capturing a person’s expectation assists in determining the behavior and outcome of what the future may bring.  In the social-cognitive theory, subjective value is the importance individuals place on desired outcomes. For some, receiving reinforcements is the result of hard work. Believers of this are known to have an internal locus of control; the general expectancies about whether one’s efforts can bring about desired outcomes or reinforcements.  On the flip side, there are individuals that believe reinforcements derive from luck or fate; also known as external locus of control.

Social-cognitive Perspective – Monica and Rachel

To better illustrate Rotter’s theory, we present you with two friends; Rachel and Monica. Monica is a very studious young girl who takes a lot of notes and spends hours reviewing them and studying for exams. While Rachel, does not completely dismiss her studies. However, only applies a third of the time that Monica does. Both girls have been this way since childhood and through it all have had similar grades. Monica believes her hard work (internal locus of control) was the force behind the accomplishment. While Rachel, believes that she has luck on her side, and that is why she receives good grades. With the history presented it is likely predictable that both girls will get the same grade in their next exam.

Psychologist Albert Bandura

The other theory comes from Albert Bandura, he believed people learned through observation but additionally contribute to their circumstances. Unlike his predecessors, Bandura did not agree knowledge was only gained through unpleasant physical sensations, laws of added support or sensual gratification (University of Phoenix, 2016). These were limitations that in Bandura’s mind did not assist in learning. Instead using observation and comprehension of other’s actions. Bandura uses the reciprocal determinism model to showcase how cognitions, behaviors, and environmental factors affect one another. Emphasizing the importance of the cognitive variables; outcome expectations and efficacy expectations. Outcome expectations are the term Bandura uses for personal predictions about outcomes of our behavior. While efficacy expectations; the term used for the expectancies we have regarding our ability to perform behaviors we set out to accomplish.

Humanistic Perspective

Psychologist that did not agree with the concept or idea that people’s movements are controlled by their unconscious mind or the environment applied the Humanistic perspective. The Humanistic perspective theory derives from the belief that everyone can make free choices that give meaning and personal directions to life. Are aware of one’s existence and past using experiences as knowledge for the present and the future.

Psychologist Carl Rogers

Carl Rogers was a major contributor to the humanistic perspective.  His theory was based on the belief that everyone possesses an inner drive to guide toward self-actualization. Using ourselves as the center of the human experience; the self-theory.  Impressions play an important role in this theory. The impressions discussed are not others but impressions that a person has of oneself. The importance Rogers wanted to present was about knowing yourself and being true to yourself. Putting aside what others may think. Encouraging the development of self-esteem and parents to bestow unconditional positive regard to their children. The concept of unconditional positive regard came from the observation that some parents’ express approval only when good behavior is displayed by the children. Rogers believed that by parents only rewarding children on good behavior it belittled the child’s worth and negatively affected the child’s self-esteem.