Current Perspectives in Psychology Chart

The Approach The Definition The Focus Application Example: Alcoholism

Behavior and personality is the How does behavior springs Does excessive drinking PSYCHOANALYTIC product of unconscious sexual from unconscious drives and indicate an unconscious and aggressive forces. conflicts? problem or conflict? Does drinking reduce inhibitions allowing the unconscious to surface?

Behavior is the product of How do we learn observable Is alcoholism learned? Can it BEHAVIORAL learning and associations. responses (behaviors)? be unlearned? Can new habits replace the alcoholic habits?

Behavior is a consequence of How do we encode, process, What thought pattern precedes COGNITIVE internal thoughts. Humans use store, and retrieve heavy drinking? Can the mental processes to solve information? thoughts be analyzed and problems or develop changed to curtail the drinking personality characteristics. behavior?

Behavior is a reflection of How do we reach our full For what inadequacy do people HUMANISTIC internal personal growth; we potential, or “self-actualize,” try to compensate by drinking? are not products of our and what prevents us from Does alcohol give people a environment, we all have free doing so? false sense of relief from will. inadequacy or lack of self- worth?

Behavior is a result of the How do the body and brain Is alcoholism a disease? What NEUROBIOLOGICAL interplay of functions of the enable behavior? role does genetics play in the nervous system and biology. development of alcoholism? How does alcohol affect the brain? Behavior is influenced by the How do behavior and thinking How does alcoholism differ SOCIOCULTURAL rules and expectations of social vary across situations and between cultures? What groups and cultures. cultures? unique pressures of a particular culture contribute to alcohol abuse?