PSYCHOLOGY INTRODUCTION

A theory is an important feature that helps to explain diverse evidence-based claims. Theories are significant in psychology because they help to provide insight and explanations for why people behave the way they do. There are numerous psychological theories that help to explain the nature of individual behavior. The main ideas in psychology include behavioral theories, cognitive theories, and lastly humanism beliefs. These concepts are crucial in psychology. The theories that have been emphasized in this debate and case study are mostly behavioral theories and cognitive theories. Behaviorism also knew as behavioral psychology is an important approach to understanding the way individuals behave (Slavin and Davis, 2016). According to this theory, the behaviors that are exhibited by a person are usually conditioned. This conditioning is always seen when an individual interacts with his or her environment directly. Again, this theory also holds on to the fact that the behaviors of a person are exhibited through the way they respond to a stimulus that they have been subjected to. The response to stimulus by an individual is what is regarded to as actions.

This theory focuses on the systematic behaviors of a person that is observable. The internal state of mind is always not considered (Ainslie, 2015). Those who strictly focus on this theory usually believe about the fact that a person is capable of behaving the way he or she is after they have been trained. The behaviors of an individual can be seen regardless of the backgrounds that they come from, the traits that they process, the genetic compositions of a person as well as the thoughts that they have internally. With the right conditioning, it is possible to achieve a particular desired behavior in an individual.

Elements of the theory

The behavioral approach has some important features that are worth considering. One of the most important aspects of this theory is that the learning process occurs through associations of various aspects (Ajzen, 2012). Within an environment, learning occurs through having a natural as well as an environmental stimulus. Apart from that, another important element of this theory is the fact that there are diffract factors which are responsible for influencing the process of conditioning. A person’s behavior can be acquired, and others can be as a result of extinction. The other element that is important in this theory is the fact that learning can occur either through rewards or punishments (Bandura and Adams, 2017).

It is also important to note that there are also reinforces in some aspects of conditioning. Operant conditioning requires that there is reinforcement. Operant conditioning is a type of conditioning that an individual is subjected to through an artificial stimulus. On the other hand, in classical conditioning, there is always a neutral stimulus that is in existence as well as a natural incentive (Carver and Scheier, 2012).

How the theory is related to the case and its applications

The behavioral approach can be used to relate to the situation of Mr. Clive. The behavior attributed by Mr. Clive is because he has been conditioned to behave that way. He was left in a position where he has been exposed to sorrow and lots of loneliness. This is evident especially based on the fact that he faced bereavement and also because he has not received a chance to become happy with his grandchildren. It is also apparent that these events condition him to show a personality of someone who has already given up in life. To save him and to change his behavior, it would be substantial if the client is conditioned to a situation where he will be able to adapt to. One of the things that can be done to him is to make changes in his diet. Another change that can be subjected to him is to make him gain the exposure of being close to his relatives.

Considering the case of Mr. Clive, this theory is an important one because it helps in the identification of the causes of the behavior of an individual as well as what it takes to initiate change in an individual. Apart from this, it can be used in determining why he or she elapsed to his situation. The theory is an important one and can be used in developing and also building programs that are important which can help in changing the behavior of the patient.

Cognitive theory

The cognitive theory is an important theory in psychology mainly because it focuses on the thought processes of human beings and also how people think. Based on this theory, the main assumption that is placed is the fact that the views that people have an impact on the way people behave (Neisse, 2014). Considering this theory, the mind is an important tool because it’s an information processor.

Based on the fact that the mind is an important information processing device it is important in determining the perceptions that people hold, how people show or exhibit their attention, the language people use, their memory consciousness as well as their thought processes. This tool is important in the explanation of the internal thought processes of a human being (Lachman, Lachman and Butterfield, 2015). It rarely explains the external behaviors of a person mainly because they assume the internal thoughts of a person or what goes through the mind of a person has an impact on the way they behave externally.

Elements of the theory

There are very many important features that can be used in the explanation of this method. One of these items is based on the fact that the theory was initiated because it was against the behaviorist approach that focused a lot on the external behavior of an individual rather than the internal processes that occur to a person to trigger their reactions (Barsalou, 2014). Through this, it is possible to understand how a person feels internally and how this might have an impact on their well-being.

The other essential element of this theory is that there is the development of relevant methods of experimenting. Being that there are important experimental methods, it is easier to understand well the thoughts of persons according to this theory (Sternberg and Sternberg, 2016). The final element of this theory is that there is a comparison between how human beings process information and how computers process information. The existing disparity is the main reason why it is important to understand the thoughts of an individual.

How the theory is related to the case and its applications

The situation of Mr. Clive can be used and explained using the cognitive theory. The way he behaves can be explained by the thought processes that he might have. This is an individual who has been subjected to a lot of pain and torture. Apart from that, it is possible to understand the reason why he feels that he needs to see his grandchildren. Probably because he sees himself as old and that potentials of dying are high. He has the fear that he might not be able to see his grandchildren.

In the case of Mr. Clive, this theory is relevant, and it can be used in helping him develop morally and have the best impression of the situation. The method can be used in assisting him to forget the situations that he is facing currently. It is also important in helping patient’s device strategies that they can use to deal with their depression considering the condition of Mr. Clive

References

Ainslie, G., 2015. Specious reward: a behavioral theory of impulsiveness and impulse control. Psychological bulletin, 82(4), p.463.

Ajzen, I., 2012. Perceived behavioral control, self‐efficacy, locus of control, and the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of applied social psychology, 32(4), pp.665-683.

Bandura, A. and Adams, N.E., 2017. Analysis of self-efficacy theory of behavioral change. Cognitive therapy and research, 1(4), pp.287-310.

Barsalou, L.W., 2014. Cognitive psychology: An overview for cognitive scientists. Psychology Press.

Block, R.A., 2014. Cognitive models of psychological time. Psychology Press.

Carver, C.S. and Scheier, M.F., 2012. Control theory: A useful conceptual framework for personality–social, clinical, and health psychology. Psychological bulletin, 92(1), p.111.

Lachman, R., Lachman, J.L. and Butterfield, E.C., 2015. Cognitive psychology and information processing: An introduction. Psychology Press.

Neisse, U., 2014. Cognitive psychology: Classic edition. Psychology Press.

Slavin, R.E. and Davis, N., 2016. Educational psychology: Theory and practice.

Sternberg, R.J. and Sternberg, K., 2016. Cognitive psychology. Nelson Education.