Unit 8: Psychological Perspectives for Health and Social Care
Assignment 2: Psychological approaches to Health and care practice
This written report will show a comparison on 2 psychological approaches of
the Behaviourist and Psychodynamic approaches to Health and Social Care
provisions with looking at their similarities and differences in health and social
care issues they can assist with. As well as an evaluation on the two
approaches with their strengths and weaknesses applied to health and social
care provisions.
M2 - Compare 2 psychological approaches to health and social care service
provision
Behaviourist and Psychodynamic approach
The Behaviourist approach explains how behaviour is learnt through
interaction by our environment and experiences. Alongside with behaviour
being learnt using the concepts of association, reinforcement (positive and
negative) and punishment. As the behaviourist approach takes a
psychological approach where it emphasises on scientific an objective
methods of investigation and concerned with observable stimulus-response
behaviours and states all behaviour is learnt through interaction with the
environment. McLeod, S. A. (2017). Behaviorist approach. Simply
Psychology. [Online] [Accessed on 21 st April 2018]
https://www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html. Whilst the
Psychodynamic approach explains how our behaviour is driven by our
unconscious mind as all psychological theories that depict about the human
function based by the contact of the forces and drives within the person and
between the different structures of the personality. With Sigmund Freud
psychoanalysis that is both theory and therapy, which was the original
psychodynamic theory but the whole psychodynamic approach that includes
other theories including Erik Erikson that were based on Freud’s ideas. Freud
developed a collection of theories that formed the basis of the psychodynamic
approach to psychology where his theories are clinically derived. McLeod, S.
A. (2017). Psychodynamic approach. Simply Psychology. [Online] [Accessed
on 21st April 2018] https://www.simplypsychology.org/psychodynamic.html.
Similarities
Similarities in both the Behaviourist and Psychodynamic approaches as both
perspectives both believe that current behaviour is determined by past
experiences Both approaches are similar as they are based on human
behaviour as they look at how a person’s behaviour can be influenced by
environmental features. As the Psychodynamic approach believes that the
major cause of behaviour is the unconscious mind as it is the primary source
with the different parts of the unconscious mind struggle constantly as we
have no control over, which influence our behaviour, feelings and decisions.
Alongside our behaviour and feelings in adulthood are determined from our
childhood experiences and shape our personality with the occurred events
that happened can remain in the unconscious, which can lead to problems in
adulthood. Whereas the Behaviourists approach sees behaviour is the result
from a stimulus-response and is determined by the environment as your
behaviour is based from past experiences through classical/operant
conditioning or the roles of reinforcement.
1
, Unit 8: Psychological Perspectives for Health and Social Care
The Behaviourist approach can be used in many ways in health and social
care settings as it’s main purpose is to change and shape an individuals
behaviour to overcome difficult behaviour as with the use of positive
reinforcement as behaviour is shaped by the environment which impact an
individuals behaviours where for example, doctors will use this kind of
reinforcement to persuade the patients to help themselves to improve health.
And the Behaviourist approach links in the social care sector, as within a
school setting, students will associate the school bell, which will either indicate
break/lunch time or time to go home. Whilst the Psychodynamic approach is
used to help explain why and how to deal with mental health as the theory
shows an importance for the unconscious mind.
Differences
However there are some differences to health and social care provisions as
the Behaviourist perspective focuses on observable stimulus-response
behaviours and it’s use of scientific and objective methods of investigation.
Whilst the Psychodynamic approach looks at assumption which can be biased
and cannot be generalised. As well as both approaches that both look at
behaviour and personality differently where they both will look at the structure
and features of how the behaviour occurs.
But the Psychodynamic approach will also look at the forces in the
unconscious mind where the individuals have little control over their
behavioural as it is predetermined, which affect the behaviour and how past
events have affected it as early childhood plays a crucial role in shaping an
individuals personality. As Freud suggested that the causes of behaviour
originated from the unconscious mind with ‘The psyche’ where the personality
is made up of three things of:
Id – pleasure principle with unconscious urges and desires as it is the
impulsive part of the psyche
Ego - reality principle, which decides what actions are appropriate to
avoid pain and reduce tension unlike the id.
Superego – values and morals (conscious and ego-ideal) makes up an
individuals personality, develop at different stages of life
As well as the Psychodynamic approach to phobias to manage the
unconscious and past experiences to analyse and estimate present
behavioural approaches. As a professional can consider the case of an
individual who becomes scared and horrified when near in contact with ain a
particular situation or an object. Nowadays, psychodynamic theorist will
encourage the individual to speak about their childhood experiences and the
type of relationship they share with relatives and acquaintances, which may
involve an unpleasant experience if the past has played a significant role to
the damage to the individual’s psychological equilibrium. And to treat phobias
by cognitive behavioural therapy where the service user will gradually be
exposed to fearful situations to treat anxiety disorders. Sihaan08. (2016) UNIT
8 PSYCHOLOGICAL PERPSEPCTIVES FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE.
Word Press. [Online] [Accessed on 21 st April 2018]
2
Assignment 2: Psychological approaches to Health and care practice
This written report will show a comparison on 2 psychological approaches of
the Behaviourist and Psychodynamic approaches to Health and Social Care
provisions with looking at their similarities and differences in health and social
care issues they can assist with. As well as an evaluation on the two
approaches with their strengths and weaknesses applied to health and social
care provisions.
M2 - Compare 2 psychological approaches to health and social care service
provision
Behaviourist and Psychodynamic approach
The Behaviourist approach explains how behaviour is learnt through
interaction by our environment and experiences. Alongside with behaviour
being learnt using the concepts of association, reinforcement (positive and
negative) and punishment. As the behaviourist approach takes a
psychological approach where it emphasises on scientific an objective
methods of investigation and concerned with observable stimulus-response
behaviours and states all behaviour is learnt through interaction with the
environment. McLeod, S. A. (2017). Behaviorist approach. Simply
Psychology. [Online] [Accessed on 21 st April 2018]
https://www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html. Whilst the
Psychodynamic approach explains how our behaviour is driven by our
unconscious mind as all psychological theories that depict about the human
function based by the contact of the forces and drives within the person and
between the different structures of the personality. With Sigmund Freud
psychoanalysis that is both theory and therapy, which was the original
psychodynamic theory but the whole psychodynamic approach that includes
other theories including Erik Erikson that were based on Freud’s ideas. Freud
developed a collection of theories that formed the basis of the psychodynamic
approach to psychology where his theories are clinically derived. McLeod, S.
A. (2017). Psychodynamic approach. Simply Psychology. [Online] [Accessed
on 21st April 2018] https://www.simplypsychology.org/psychodynamic.html.
Similarities
Similarities in both the Behaviourist and Psychodynamic approaches as both
perspectives both believe that current behaviour is determined by past
experiences Both approaches are similar as they are based on human
behaviour as they look at how a person’s behaviour can be influenced by
environmental features. As the Psychodynamic approach believes that the
major cause of behaviour is the unconscious mind as it is the primary source
with the different parts of the unconscious mind struggle constantly as we
have no control over, which influence our behaviour, feelings and decisions.
Alongside our behaviour and feelings in adulthood are determined from our
childhood experiences and shape our personality with the occurred events
that happened can remain in the unconscious, which can lead to problems in
adulthood. Whereas the Behaviourists approach sees behaviour is the result
from a stimulus-response and is determined by the environment as your
behaviour is based from past experiences through classical/operant
conditioning or the roles of reinforcement.
1
, Unit 8: Psychological Perspectives for Health and Social Care
The Behaviourist approach can be used in many ways in health and social
care settings as it’s main purpose is to change and shape an individuals
behaviour to overcome difficult behaviour as with the use of positive
reinforcement as behaviour is shaped by the environment which impact an
individuals behaviours where for example, doctors will use this kind of
reinforcement to persuade the patients to help themselves to improve health.
And the Behaviourist approach links in the social care sector, as within a
school setting, students will associate the school bell, which will either indicate
break/lunch time or time to go home. Whilst the Psychodynamic approach is
used to help explain why and how to deal with mental health as the theory
shows an importance for the unconscious mind.
Differences
However there are some differences to health and social care provisions as
the Behaviourist perspective focuses on observable stimulus-response
behaviours and it’s use of scientific and objective methods of investigation.
Whilst the Psychodynamic approach looks at assumption which can be biased
and cannot be generalised. As well as both approaches that both look at
behaviour and personality differently where they both will look at the structure
and features of how the behaviour occurs.
But the Psychodynamic approach will also look at the forces in the
unconscious mind where the individuals have little control over their
behavioural as it is predetermined, which affect the behaviour and how past
events have affected it as early childhood plays a crucial role in shaping an
individuals personality. As Freud suggested that the causes of behaviour
originated from the unconscious mind with ‘The psyche’ where the personality
is made up of three things of:
Id – pleasure principle with unconscious urges and desires as it is the
impulsive part of the psyche
Ego - reality principle, which decides what actions are appropriate to
avoid pain and reduce tension unlike the id.
Superego – values and morals (conscious and ego-ideal) makes up an
individuals personality, develop at different stages of life
As well as the Psychodynamic approach to phobias to manage the
unconscious and past experiences to analyse and estimate present
behavioural approaches. As a professional can consider the case of an
individual who becomes scared and horrified when near in contact with ain a
particular situation or an object. Nowadays, psychodynamic theorist will
encourage the individual to speak about their childhood experiences and the
type of relationship they share with relatives and acquaintances, which may
involve an unpleasant experience if the past has played a significant role to
the damage to the individual’s psychological equilibrium. And to treat phobias
by cognitive behavioural therapy where the service user will gradually be
exposed to fearful situations to treat anxiety disorders. Sihaan08. (2016) UNIT
8 PSYCHOLOGICAL PERPSEPCTIVES FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE.
Word Press. [Online] [Accessed on 21 st April 2018]
2
