PSYCHOLOGY
Three Psychological Perspectives
For this assignment, behaviorism, biological and cognitive perspectives in relation to
addiction behavior are selected. Behavioral perspective assumes that individuals are born a blank
slate, in other terms, "tabula rasa" (Shibutani et al., 2017). Instead of individuals being
influenced by biological processes and genetic makeup, behaviorists believed that human
outward behaviors are mainly determined by the external environment, unlike the cognitive
approach that focuses primarily on internal processes. For example, individuals learn from their
live encounters that shape their behavior or act in particular circumstances. Behaviorists mainly
focus on outward behavior exhibited by an individual instead of focusing on inner processes
occurring in mind (Shibutani et al., 2017).
Behaviorists help explain the addiction by stressing how this behavior is habitual or
learned. Behaviorists state that behavior like addiction is learned by observing and imitating
others. Individuals experience peer pressure to try drugs which results in addiction (Shibutani et
al., 2017). Addiction is a learned behavior through operant and classical conditioning.
Individuals mainly learn addictive behaviors via classical conditioning through pairing addictive
substances pleasure together with environmental cues (Shibutani et al., 2017). A good example is
when an individual smokes bhang in his car after finishing work. This person enjoys smoking
bhang, which establishes the paired link with riding his vehicle. The habitual pairing of bhang
with riding car, after work, and car become the primary cues that stimulate this person to smoke
bhang. The cues design potent cravings for bhang. Fortunately, this addictive behavior can be
, unlearned (Shibutani et al., 2017). For example, in a case where the after-work becomes the
primary cue to smoking bhang, carrying out varied activities continuously or repeatedly after
completing work forms new associations. Therefore, an individual can practice riding a vehicle
without having to smoke. The cue's power diminishes via cue exposure, and the cue's decline
results in cravings that can be lessened by not smoking bhang and riding a car (Shibutani et al.,
2017).
On the other hand, the cognitive perspective has a varied viewpoint of human behavior
from behaviorists. While the behaviorists observe the behavior, the cognitive psychologists
mainly focus on internal mental processes leading to an individual acting in a particular manner
(Horvath et al., 2021). The cognitive approach is perceived as vital since it entails looking at the
mental processes while learning how they influence behavior. Cognitive psychologists focus on
mediational processes that are vital instead of emphasizing stimulus responses like behaviorists
(Horvath et al., 2021). Without studying the mental processes, psychologists fail to comprehend
the behavior entirely. This approach is founded on the assumption that a psychologist can fully
understand behavior by studying mental processes like decision-making, memory, perception,
language, and attention. The cognitive approach is also founded on the assumption that the mind
immediately and actively processes information from the five senses (Horvath et al., 2021). It
also focuses on studying the correlation existing between experiences and behaviors. Another
primary assumption is that human behavior is explainable according to scientific mechanisms
(MentalHelp.Net, 2021). Cognitive psychologists state that addictive behavior is chosen and
preferred over healthy behavior due to expectations (MentalHelp.Net, 2021). In a case whereby
an individual expects the cons and pros of addictive behavior may favorable outweigh the
healthy behavior cons and pros by choosing addictive behavior. For instance, when some believe
Three Psychological Perspectives
For this assignment, behaviorism, biological and cognitive perspectives in relation to
addiction behavior are selected. Behavioral perspective assumes that individuals are born a blank
slate, in other terms, "tabula rasa" (Shibutani et al., 2017). Instead of individuals being
influenced by biological processes and genetic makeup, behaviorists believed that human
outward behaviors are mainly determined by the external environment, unlike the cognitive
approach that focuses primarily on internal processes. For example, individuals learn from their
live encounters that shape their behavior or act in particular circumstances. Behaviorists mainly
focus on outward behavior exhibited by an individual instead of focusing on inner processes
occurring in mind (Shibutani et al., 2017).
Behaviorists help explain the addiction by stressing how this behavior is habitual or
learned. Behaviorists state that behavior like addiction is learned by observing and imitating
others. Individuals experience peer pressure to try drugs which results in addiction (Shibutani et
al., 2017). Addiction is a learned behavior through operant and classical conditioning.
Individuals mainly learn addictive behaviors via classical conditioning through pairing addictive
substances pleasure together with environmental cues (Shibutani et al., 2017). A good example is
when an individual smokes bhang in his car after finishing work. This person enjoys smoking
bhang, which establishes the paired link with riding his vehicle. The habitual pairing of bhang
with riding car, after work, and car become the primary cues that stimulate this person to smoke
bhang. The cues design potent cravings for bhang. Fortunately, this addictive behavior can be
, unlearned (Shibutani et al., 2017). For example, in a case where the after-work becomes the
primary cue to smoking bhang, carrying out varied activities continuously or repeatedly after
completing work forms new associations. Therefore, an individual can practice riding a vehicle
without having to smoke. The cue's power diminishes via cue exposure, and the cue's decline
results in cravings that can be lessened by not smoking bhang and riding a car (Shibutani et al.,
2017).
On the other hand, the cognitive perspective has a varied viewpoint of human behavior
from behaviorists. While the behaviorists observe the behavior, the cognitive psychologists
mainly focus on internal mental processes leading to an individual acting in a particular manner
(Horvath et al., 2021). The cognitive approach is perceived as vital since it entails looking at the
mental processes while learning how they influence behavior. Cognitive psychologists focus on
mediational processes that are vital instead of emphasizing stimulus responses like behaviorists
(Horvath et al., 2021). Without studying the mental processes, psychologists fail to comprehend
the behavior entirely. This approach is founded on the assumption that a psychologist can fully
understand behavior by studying mental processes like decision-making, memory, perception,
language, and attention. The cognitive approach is also founded on the assumption that the mind
immediately and actively processes information from the five senses (Horvath et al., 2021). It
also focuses on studying the correlation existing between experiences and behaviors. Another
primary assumption is that human behavior is explainable according to scientific mechanisms
(MentalHelp.Net, 2021). Cognitive psychologists state that addictive behavior is chosen and
preferred over healthy behavior due to expectations (MentalHelp.Net, 2021). In a case whereby
an individual expects the cons and pros of addictive behavior may favorable outweigh the
healthy behavior cons and pros by choosing addictive behavior. For instance, when some believe
