Essay by lexylee23 November 2014

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The behavioral approach is based on the concept of explaining behavior through observation, and the belief that our environment is what causes us to behave differently or suffer illnesses. This approach can also be broken down into three separate topics; Classical, Radical, and Methodological Behaviorism. Classical Behaviorism is justified more along the terms that you can only draw psychological inferences from the behavior that a person outwardly demonstrates, without relying upon the observations or analysis of internal processes such as emotions or thoughts. John B. Watson was a major part in gaining popularity for this psychological approach in the twentieth century with the publication of an article. Radical behaviorism has a somewhat extreme view since that it ignores biological and cognitive influences. Also, some particularly given research has found genetic factors to play a part in disorders such as schizophrenia, and depression. The last section, methodological behaviorism, is also extremely important.

It places a great deal of emphasis on observing human and animal action as a source of gaining insight into why people behave and act the way they do, basically getting explanations for actions.

Very closely related to behavioral psychology, psychodynamic psychology does not focus the trappings of science, but instead focuses on trying to get 'inside the head' of people in order to make sense of their relationships, experiences and how they see the world. The words psychodynamic and psychoanalytic are often confused. A psychologist that can contribute to the difference between the two is Sigmund Freud. Freud's theories were psychoanalytic, whereas the term 'psychodynamic' refers to both his theories, and those of his followers. Freud's psychoanalysis can be known as both a theory and a therapy.

The humanistic approach in psychology refers to an entire individual, or a whole person. Humanistic psychologists not only are concerned...