DEFINITION OF PSYCHOANALYTIC

a systematic structure of theories

concerning the relation of conscious and
unconscious psychological processes.

STRENGTH:
  It explains human behaviour and
personality and seems to be a
complete theory of personality.
 The role of early childhood
experiences and the unconscious is
emphasized.
 The dynamic nature of human
behaviour also gets emphasized.
 The defence mechanisms of ego is
also emphasized.
 It provides scope for a serious
interest in psychological treatment of
mental problems.
 It provides scope for further
theoretical and research work in
personality.

Weaknesses:
 Freud’s theory lacks empirical
evidence and relies too much on
therapeutic achievements.
 Freud’s clinical data are also
inaccurate, flawed and selective at
best.
 Freud’s psychoanalysis techniques
like ideas on the interpretation of
dreams and the role of free
association are also criticized.
 Psychoanalysis cannot be called a
science and many of the principles
upon which it is based are wrong.
 Some of Freudian concepts are poorly
designed. For example, psychic
energy is not explained what is it and
how it can be measured.
 The theory also does not have
scientific proof.
 The role of sexual drive is over
emphasized.
 The theory suggests that there is no
free will.
 DEFINITION OF BEHAVIOURISTIC

Behaviorism, also known as behavioral

psychology, is a theory of learning based
on the idea that all behaviors are
acquired through conditioning.
Conditioning occurs through interaction
with the environment. Behaviorists
believe that our responses to
environmental stimuli shape our actions
 The behaviourist approach

STRENGTH
 Its use of rigorous, experimental
methods of research enhances the
credibility of science as a scientific
discipline
 It provides strong arguments for the
nurture side of the nature/nurture
debate
 The approach has provided a number
of practical applications and
techniques to shape behaviour, e.g.
the use of rewards in education
Weaknesses
 It ignores the mental processes that
are involved in learning unlike the
cognitive approach who views these
processes as important. According to
the behaviourist approach, people
can only learn as a result of their
experiences
 The use of animals in applying the
laws of learning to humans has been
criticised as humans are more
complex than animals.
 The principle of operant and classical
conditioning do not account for
spontaneous behaviour in humans
 It rejects the possible role of
biological factors in human
behaviour, unlike the biological
approach which considers nature and
important factor.
 DEFINITION OF HUMANISTIC

The humanistic perspective is an

approach to psychology that emphasizes
empathy and stresses the good in
human behavior. ... In counseling and
therapy, this approach allows an
psychologist to focus on ways to help
improve an individual's self-image or
self-actualization - the things that make
them feel worthwhile.
Strength
 Emphasises autonomy and free will
when choosing behaviour- The
approach aims to find an alternative
approach to scientific psychology
(concentrates on the subjective
experiences of individuals and its
meaning which cannot be studied in
experiments)
 It's the only approach in psychology
which places the individual's
subjective experience and meanings
at the centre
 It is not reductionist- Individual is not
seen as the product of neurons firing
or stimulus-response links
 It is holistic- Places focus on the
whole of the individual
 Client-Centred Therapy (CCT) is
supportive of individuals with
problems and treats them with
 respect- it is seen as a non-directive
form of therapy
 Views the person as an active agent
 Promotes the idea of personal
responsibility
 States that the subjective experiences
are of importance and value
 Client-Centred Therapy is used by
psychologists and counsellors in
therapy today.

Weaknesses
 It is too positive when regarding
human behaviour- this means that it
assumes individuals are instrinsically
good and will choose positive paths
for their lives- however free will and
choice is limited for some individuals
 There is too much emphasis on
subjective experience- Hard to study
 Approach is not scientific- Does not
use any rigorous, objective methods
and doesn't make predictions that
can be proved or disproved
 Places emphasis on conscious
awareness- this limits the scope of
the humanistic approach as it ignores
things that are out of conscious
awareness
 Client-Centred Therapy is of limited
help for individuals with complex
problems
 Hard to falsify
 Lacks empirical support