Psychological Assumptions

1. Behavior, cognitions and emotions can be explained in terms of the working of the brain and the effect of hormones, genetics and evolution.

• Biological Approach

• Cognitive Approach

• Learning Approach

• Social Approach

1. Similarities and differences between people can be understood in terms of biological factors and their interaction with other factors.

• Biological Approach

• Cognitive Approach

• Learning Approach

• Social Approach

1. Information is processed through the same route in all humans: input – process – output, in a similar way to how information is processed by a computer.

• Biological Approach

• Cognitive Approach

• Learning Approach

• Social Approach

1. People have individual differences in their cognitive processing such as with attention, language, thinking and memory. These processes can also help to explain behavior and emotion.

• Biological Approach

• Cognitive Approach

• Learning Approach

• Social Approach

1. We all begin life as a blank slate. Experiences and interactions with the environment shape our behavior and these changes are directly observable.

• Biological Approach

• Cognitive Approach

• Learning Approach

• Social Approach

1. We learn through the processes of operant conditioning, classical conditioning and social learning. This can be understood using the stimulus-response model. 

• Biological Approach

• Cognitive Approach

• Learning Approach

• Social Approach

1. Behavior, cognitions and emotions are influenced by social contexts, social environments and groups.

• Biological Approach

• Cognitive Approach

• Learning Approach

• Social Approach

1. Behavior, cognitions and emotions are influenced by the actual, implied or imagined presence of others.

• Biological Approach

• Cognitive Approach

• Learning Approach

• Social Approach