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Unit 11: Psychological PerspectivesChelsea Keight
Case study 1: Keira
Keira who is fifty-four has become addicted to pain killers following surgery three years ago. Keira
found the surgery traumatic as it followed a diagnosis of cancer and has altered her appearance.
Case Study 2: Andy
Andy who is thirty-two years old and has recently been involved in a road traffic accident where
his partner died. Andy has been diagnosed as having post-traumatic stress disorder and has
begun to self-harm.
LAA: How psychological perspectives contribute to the
understanding of human development and behaviour
Using theory to understand, manage and treat human behaviours
Psychological perspectives
A psychologist is someone who studies human behaviour and mental processes through the
methods of observation, interpretation and recording behaviour to make generalisations that can be
used to identify others behaviour. Psychology is important in understanding human behaviour as we
can research how different factors have impacted behaviour and can relate the findings to others.
Keira is 54 and has developed an addiction to pain killers after having a surgery, which she found
traumatic due to it following a cancer diagnosis and altering her appearance. Andy is 32 and was
involved in a road traffic accident where his partner died, due to this he has been diagnosed with
post-traumatic stress disorder and has self-harmed.
Behaviourist perspective- understanding human behaviour
The Behaviourist Perspective is theories that behavioural psychologists have researched and focused
on how human behaviour is learnt from experiences and suggests that we are born as blank slates.
One example of a behavioural theory is classical conditioning which was introduced by Ivan Pavlov in
the 1800s. Pavlov (1849-1936) was a Russian psychologist who studied conditioning through training
dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell. This behavioural perspective suggests that we learn through
an association between two stimuli which has then determined our behaviour. These conclusions
were developed through Pavlov’s research on dogs where he studied how they salivate when
introduced to food. He classical conditioned the dog to salivate when hearing a bell ring, this was
done through studying how just hearing a bell gave no response from the dog. He then introduced
just the food, which is the unconditioned stimulus which resulted in salivation, which is the
unconditioned response. Pavlov then repeatedly rang the bell (neutral stimulus) and introduced food
(unconditioned stimulus) to the dog at the same time, which then caused the dog to salivate, which
turned it into a conditioned response. After some time, Pavlov just rang the bell on its own and due
to the association that the dog made between the bell and the food, the dog salivated. This research
can be linked with humans as our mental processes follow the same as the dogs as we associate
stimuli to create a new response. So, Pavlov’s classical conditioning experiment allows us to
understand how the association has impacted people’s behaviour to react in certain ways.
Another behavioural theory that helps to understand human behaviour is operant conditioning
which was demonstrated through Skinner’s research in 1974. B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) was an
, Unit 11: Psychological Perspectives
Chelsea Keight
American psychologist who is best known for developing the theory of behaviourism in 1938. This
research concluded that we learn through consequences of our actions whether they are positive or
negative. Our behavioural responses to the consequences are learnt and are reinforced, this can
happen through either positive or negative reinforcement or punishment. Positive reinforcement is
when someone’s behaviour is more likely to be repeated due to having positive consequences like
being given a reward. Whereas negative reinforcement is when someone’s behaviour is more likely
to be repeated due to the removal of unpleasant consequences. Punishment, however, is when
someone is less likely to repeat behaviour due to having unpleasant consequences after the
completion of the behaviour. The different types of reinforcement were developed after Skinner
researched a rat being placed in a box and receiving a food pellet when it pressed a lever. The rat
soon became positively reinforced and constantly went straight to the lever for it to receive food
pellets. Skinner then changed the experiment to show punishment and negative reinforcement by
using an electrical current in the box, which stopped once the rat pressed the lever. This shows that
due to different outcomes, we can be encouraged or discouraged to learn certain behaviours.
The Behaviourist Perspective can be used to help to understand the development of behaviour of
Andy. This can be seen in Andy’s behaviour of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and self-
harming has been learnt through the association of negative feelings with the traffic accident, which
can be explained using classical conditioning. Andy has associated these two negative stimuli and
developed a conditioned response of severe anxiety, which can be seen with the diagnosis of post-
traumatic stress disorder. This means that whenever he encounters a situation that is linked with the
traffic accident, he would probably experience anxiety. This continuous cycle could be further
developed through operant conditioning as he could be avoiding situations that trigger his anxiety,
which results in him being positively reinforced due to not experience severe anxiety in the form of
post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Behaviourist Perspective can also be used to help to understand the development of behaviour
of Keira. This is seen in Keira’s behaviour of being addicted to pain killers following her surgery is due
to learning through reinforcement, shown in operant conditioning. This has happened due to her
receiving a traumatic experience from after surgery because of a cancer diagnosis and an altered
appearance which this consequence for her was positively reinforced with taking the pain killers as a
relief. She has then continued to take the pain killers through more positive reinforcement due to
having pain relief from the medication, resulting in a pleasant consequence for Keira.
Behaviourist perspective- understanding specific human behaviour
The behavioural perspective helps us to understand how we can challenge human behaviour as we
can work backwards from the specific behaviour that you want challenging. You can then look at
what the origins of that behaviour are and using the behavioural perspective of association or
reinforcement, you can challenge it and create new associations or reinforcements.
The behavioural perspective also helps us to understand changing behaviour. This is due to how
behaviour has been learnt through either classical or operant conditioning and means that it can also
be unlearnt using the same techniques. These techniques include reconditioning, behavioural
modification or behavioural shaping.
Explanations promote the use of systematic desensitisation treatment to address phobias. This is
done through the aim of extinguishing an undesirable behaviour and replacing it with a more
desirable one. Systematic desensitisation works by a therapist introducing someone to techniques
for them to relax, this is done as it is impossible to feel both relaxed and fear at the time same. They
, Unit 11: Psychological Perspectives
Chelsea Keight
then construct a hierarchy of fears that are linked with their fear, which starts with the least
frightening and ends with the most frightening. After this hierarchy is created, they then start with
the least frightening and remain calm when trying to overcome that fear. They can only move onto
the next level once they stay calm when present with their fear. Otherwise, they are not completely
overcoming their fear.
Systematic desensitisation treatment can be used to help address anxiety by identifying an anxious
situation like being scared of a spider. Then by using this situation to construct a hierarchy from least
to most anxious. An example of a hierarchy would be looking at pictures of spiders, seeing a spider in
a box across the other side of the room, standing next to a spider in a closed box, stand next to a
spider with the lid off the box, stand next to someone holding the spider, touch the spider then
finally hold the spider. The patients are then taught a relaxation technique which they will use when
going through the steps of the hierarchy. A relaxation technique could be meditation or hypnosis.
Once this technique has been learnt, the patient will then progress through the hierarchy and will
attempt to remain relaxed throughout the steps. Only once they are fully relaxed in the first step,
will they move onto the next, until they have complete the hierarchy.
The Behaviourist Perspective can help to understand the specific changes in the behaviours of Andy
through systematic desensitisation. This treatment method can be used to change his behaviour.
The first step would be to teach him a relaxation technique like meditation. This would be done in a
safe environment for him, so he can remain calm and be comfortable. Then Andy would need to
construct a hierarchy that links with his traumatic event, which is the road accident. An example of a
hierarchy for Andy would be to sit in a car and feel comfortable with driving and being in control
with the car. This links with the next step, for Andy, to drive around a familiar area, so he can be
relaxed being in control of a car. Then he could sit and look at pictures where the road accident
happened, so he can familiarise himself with the area. After this, he could walk to the site, so he can
remain calm and in control of his actions, here he can associate the area with relaxation instead of
his previous anxious thoughts. Finally, he could drive to and past the site multiple times so he can
come to the understanding that he is safe. These steps would need to be done while he remains
relaxed for him to reduce his anxiety levels and overcome his fear.
Systematic desensitisation can also be used for Keira. This would be conducted in the same way as
Andy, where she learns a relaxation technique, like hypnosis, in a safe and familiar environment. She
would then construct a hierarchy linking with his traumatic experience during surgery. A hierarchy
relevant to Keira would start with looking at pictures of hospitals so she can become aware of what
to expect and familiarise herself. She would then go to a hospital and sit in the waiting area, this
links with the next step, where she can speak to doctors and nurses. This would allow her to trust
those that would care for her and feel comfortable in her environment. Then she could be taken to a
hospital room and asked to lie down on a hospital bed. Here she can recognise that she is in a caring
environment, where she is still in control. Finally, she could have a check-up, given from the doctor
that she spoke to. To go through these stages of the hierarchy, Kiera would need to begin each stage
as relaxed and remain relaxed through each process so she can move onto the next stage.
Social learning theory- understanding human development
The Social Learning Theory is a theory that explains behaviour as learning through the environment
of people we are surrounded by. We learn new behaviour from observing other people, whether
that is in real life or the media. This is known as observational learning and was developed by Albert
Bandura in 1961. Bandura (born in 1925) is an American psychologist who conducted research that
, Unit 11: Psychological Perspectives
Chelsea Keight
demonstrated that children learn behaviours through the observation of adults. This theory shows
learning through the use of observation of others, where we watch the behaviour of people we
consider to be a role model, their behaviour can be either positive or negative. We then identify the
consequences of that specific behaviour, a majority of the time we only imitate behaviour that has
positive consequences but that isn’t always the case.
Bandura researched the Social Learning Theory by investigating whether young children observe and
imitate role models. He did this by dividing 96 children into four groups. 3 of those groups were
shown someone being aggressive towards a bobo doll. They observed someone throwing, kicking
and punching the doll. The children were then observed for their behaviour by placing them in a
room with the same toys that they observed the role model with. It was concluded that the children
that observed the aggressive role model where more aggressive than those who didn’t observe an
aggressive role model. This shows that our environment has a large impact on our learnt behaviour.
Also, the results showed that girls showed more physically aggressive behaviour if the role model
was male ad more verbal responses if the role model was female. This could suggest that our biology
has an influence on our behaviour, as well as our environment.
When we admire an individual, whether that is someone we know personally or someone we’ve
seen through the media, we are likely to be influenced by them and imitate their behaviour. The role
model theory suggests that due to our particular culture, society and social group, we are easily
influenced by other people. The influence that others have on us, leads us to adopt certain roles and
try and live up to those expectations that go with these roles. The imitation of behaviour is seen to
happen through people paying attention to a role model and the behaviour that they are portraying.
They then remember that specific behaviour and be motivated to repeat it. Then they must have the
skills to carry out the behaviour that they observed. Multiple factors are associated with role
modelling and the influence that they have on others. The first factor is availability, this is where we
look at if the behaviour is available in the environment for us to learn from, this means if we can
observe the behaviour in our natural environment. The next factor is attention, this is where we
notice and observe the individual’s behaviour. This is then followed by retention; this is where we
remember that specific observed behaviour. Which we then reproduce if we are capable of carrying
out the behaviour ourselves. The final factor is motivation, this is where we have a desire to
reproduce the specific behaviour due to having a large influence from role models to do so and due
to observing positive consequences.
Social Learning Theory helps to explain cultural and societal influences on behaviour, due to these
factors being involved in our environment. Cultural influences refer to shared values, norms,
language, customs and practices of a group. Cultures differ in countries by also in subcultures in
society. It is important that we fully understand how culture impacts our behaviour so we can gain a
full understanding of the people that we encounter and those we work with. This is because
different cultures have different rules and customs.
The self-fulfilling prophecy is a concept that has an impact on the way we behave towards others
and expect them to behave towards us. If we believe ourselves to be worthwhile, pleasant and
likeable, then we will almost certainly be polite and cheerful towards others and therefore create a
favourable impression. This causes those we meet to perceive us in a positive way, which reinforces
our positive self-belief. Alternatively, if we portray negative feelings and believe that the world is
against us, then we are more likely to behave in an argumentative way. This will then be how we are
responded to by other people and reinforces the world is against us.
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