Core Perspectives and Schools of Psychology

Psychoanalysis

Created by Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis seeks to study psychology from an "internal" point of view; that is, it explores the human unconscious as the cause of virtually all human behavior. Psychoanalysis is based on free association and has utilized various techniques such as:

• Hypnosis
• Rorschach test (inkblot test)
• Dream interpretation

Since the original formulation by Freud, there has been much controversy regarding psychoanalysis, even among psychoanalysts themselves. Of particular note is the later contribution of Jacques Lacan.

Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a discipline that studies psychology by referring to the human body as if it functioned like a machine. In this view, the body issues a response to a stimulus; for example, if an eye focuses on light, the eyelid closes. The most common theories and techniques derived from this school include:

• Classical conditioning
• Operant conditioning
• The token economy

Cognitive Psychology

In this discipline, the human mind is studied as if it were a computer. This is considered a modern discipline and a development of behaviorism, eventually fusing into the cognitive-behavioral school.

Cognitive psychology no longer views the human mind as a simple machine (E — R). Instead, it treats it as a processor: Stimulus (Input) — Information Processing — Response (Output).

Humanistic Psychology

Humanists derive their studies from the conception that, although the human mind works like a computer in certain aspects, it also possesses other elements studied by behaviorists and feelings (the emotional part of the mind). Therefore, this discipline studies how feelings affect certain human behaviors and vice versa. Particularly interesting is the psychoanalyst Erich Fromm's work regarding Emotional Intelligence.

Developmental Psychology

As its name suggests, this field studies psychological differences and human behavior throughout a person's life. This discipline is divided into different stages according to the period of a person's life. These stages include:

• Infancy
• Adolescence
• Adulthood
• Gerontopsychology

These categories allow for a deeper understanding of the subject within developmental psychology.

Differential Psychology

While most current studies focus on the psychological characteristics common to all people, differential psychologists study precisely the opposite. They attempt to determine the general laws that dictate the behavioral differences between individuals. The primary technique known in this discipline is the single case study.

Other Perspectives

Other approaches and references to psychology exist from various points of view. While many are being formed, I have included the most important and recognized ones here to provide the reader with a general idea of modern psychology without being too lengthy.

The most representative figure in this context is Francis Galton.