5 Major Psychological Theories PDF

5 Major Psychological Theories Some of the best-known psychological theories stem from the perspectives of various [[branches within psychology]](https://www.verywellmind.com/major-branches-of-psychology-4139786). Each represents a different way of thinking about the human mind and behavior. This d...

5 Major Psychological Theories Some of the best-known psychological theories stem from the perspectives of various [[branches within psychology]](https://www.verywellmind.com/major-branches-of-psychology-4139786). Each represents a different way of thinking about the human mind and behavior. This doesn\'t mean that any particular theory is \"right\" or better than the others. It just means that various approaches exist to understanding, explaining, and predicting how people think and act. There are five major types of psychological theories: behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic, and biological. Let\'s take a closer look at each of these psychological theories and how they work. Behavioral Theories Behavioral psychology, also known as [[behaviorism]](https://www.verywellmind.com/behavioral-psychology-4157183), is a theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. This approach doesn\'t consider internal mental processes at all. Instead, it focuses on how interactions with the environment, including associations, rewards, and punishments, can be used to teach and shape behavior. Advocated by famous psychologists such as [[John B. Watson]](https://www.verywellmind.com/john-b-watson-biography-1878-1958-2795550) and [[B.F. Skinner]](https://www.verywellmind.com/b-f-skinner-biography-1904-1990-2795543), behavioral theories dominated psychology during the early half of the twentieth century.^2^ Today, [[behavioral techniques]](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-behavioral-therapy-2795998) are still widely used by therapists to help clients learn new skills and behaviors. Cognitive Theories Cognitive theories of psychology are focused on internal states, such as motivation, problem-solving, [[decision-making]](https://www.verywellmind.com/decision-making-strategies-2795483), thinking, and attention. Such theories strive to explain different mental processes, including how the mind processes information and how our thoughts lead to certain emotions and behaviors.^3^ According to [[cognitive psychological theories]](https://www.verywellmind.com/cognitive-psychology-4157181), our thoughts are important in perceiving and responding to the world around us. Some theories take an information processing approach, suggesting that the human mind works like a computer in terms of how information is processed, stored, retrieved, and used. Other theories suggest that people form mental frameworks, or [[schemas]](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-schema-2795873), to help organize and interpret information. How we interpret new information is then influenced by our existing schemas. [[Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)]](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-cognitive-behavior-therapy-2795747) is an important type of therapy that is rooted in these cognitive psychological theories. CBT focuses on helping people change their thoughts, which can help alleviate behavioral and emotional problems. Humanistic Theories Humanistic psychology theories began to grow in popularity during the 1950s.^4^ Some of the major humanist theorists included [[Carl Rogers]](https://www.verywellmind.com/carl-rogers-biography-1902-1987-2795542) and [[Abraham Maslow]](https://www.verywellmind.com/biography-of-abraham-maslow-1908-1970-2795524). While earlier theories often focused on abnormal behavior and psychological problems, humanist theories about behavior instead emphasized the basic goodness of human beings. These theories emphasize free will and the inherent drive that all people have to grow and reach their full potential. These psychological theories tend to take a more [[holistic approach]](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-holism-4685432), seeing individuals as more than the sum of their parts. Key humanistic theories include Maslow\'s hierarchy of needs, Roger\'s concept of [[unconditional positive regard]](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-unconditional-positive-regard-2796005), and the importance of [[self-actualization]](https://www.verywellmind.com/characteristics-of-self-actualized-people-2795963). Psychodynamic Theories Psychodynamic theories examine the unconscious concepts that shape our emotions, attitudes, and personalities. Psychodynamic approaches seek to understand the root causes of unconscious behavior.^5^ The unconscious represents all of the thoughts, urgest, emotions, and memories that lie outside of our conscious awareness. According to psychodynamic theorists, the unconscious continues to affect behavior even though we are unaware of it. These theories are strongly linked with [[Sigmund Freud]](https://www.verywellmind.com/sigmund-freud-his-life-work-and-theories-2795860) and his followers. The psychodynamic approach is seen in many Freudian concepts---for instance, that our adult behaviors have their roots in our childhood experiences and that the personality is made up of three parts: [[the id, the ego, and the superego]](https://www.verywellmind.com/the-id-ego-and-superego-2795951).^6^ Biological Theories [[Biological theories in psychology]](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-biopsychology-2794883) attribute human emotion and behavior to biological causes. For instance, in the [[nature versus nurture debate]](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-nature-versus-nurture-2795392) on human behavior, the biological perspective would side with nature. Biological theories are rooted in the ideas of [[Charles Darwin]](https://www.verywellmind.com/charles-darwin-biography-theories-contributions-7557154), who is famous for theorizing about the roles that evolution and genetics play in psychology. Someone examining a psychological issue from a biological lens might investigate whether there are bodily injuries causing a specific type of behavior or whether the behavior was inherited.^7^