Core Assumptions

What are the core assumptions and key features of the biological and psychoanalytic perspectives in psychology? In what ways are they similar and how do they differ?

The trouble with these two theories is that they are both very hard to prove through research, for example Freud’s theory is difficult to test empirically. As Mummendey (1996) has quoted ‘the essential concepts such as that of destructive energy are so global and inexact that one can derive no precise predictions or hypotheses that can then be tested. The psychoanalytic approach is really only able to attempt an explanation of events or behaviour that have already taken place’. McIlveen, Gross. (1998, pp125)

Psychologists that work from a biological standpoint study the links between biology and behavior. We as human beings are biopsychosocial systems, in which biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors interact to influence our everyday behavior.

However, I did not place it closest to nurture because the humanistic perspective believes in Maslow’s theory of basic needs while still focusing on environmental factors.

Freud (1923) saw the identity organized into three sections, the id, ego and superego, all developing at diverse stages in our lives. The "id" is primitive and instinctual component of identity. It comprises of all the acquired segments of identity, including the sex nature;

The biological approach of psychology presumes disorders to be a result of an organic or physical cause. This approach is based on genetics, neurotransmitters and neurophysiology. According to this approach mental disorders stem from the defects of the physical structure and functioning of the brain.

| This field of psychology analyzes the biological aspect of human behavior. As the nervous system controls behavior, the patterns of behavior can be derived from the functioning of the brain. Biological psychology also tries to analyze the biological aspects of psychological disorders.

Biological psychology easily includes the framework for everything that happens to our bodies on a molecular level. It has a relationship with our biological, physiological, biochemistry and neuroscience function; some can argue this is the single most important aspect of the human psychology. On a very molecular level we have neurons, and these are the type of cells

Biological approaches in psychology can be described as the principles of biology applied to the study of psychological, genetic, and developmental mechanisms of human behavior. The biological perspective applies itself to the study of psychology in three ways: the comparative method, which is the study of animals in order to find out about humans behavior. It is believed that to some degree behavior in animals and humans are alike. Physiology is how the nervous system and hormones work, how the brain functions, and how changes in structure and/or function can affect behavior. Investigation of inheritance is what an animal inherits from its parents, which is genetics. An example of biological psychology in the novel can be seen when Miss Axline

In the instance of social psychology it interest focuses on the study of human behavior and social situation (Encyclopedia 2000). Biological psychology in contrast focuses its main interest in the entire perspective biologically. The study of biological psychology has provided beneficial information to the realm of psychology with a higher understanding of learning and memory, perception, motivation, cognition, and emotion. Neuroscience has help contribute vital information to the field of psychology. This field through technology advances has provided scientist and research the ability to see the brain without cutting it open. Its contribution have psychologist the ability through technology understand and study the brains cognitive processes. Through imaging can monitor biological bases of mental illness (Encyclopedia 2000).

Psychoanalytic theory is based on Sigmund Freud's theories on the development of the psyche. He proposed that humans are controlled

In addition, this perspective believes in the concept of a tripartite personality’ the ID, EGO and SUPEREGO, as proposed by Freud. The ID is the first part of the personality to develop, and being the

According to Swartz and O'Neill, personality can be defined as a complex and dynamic set of psychological characteristics, unique to one person, such as motives, behaviour and cognition. Wolpe argues that mental activities are partly in ones conscious and partly in ones unconscious, which is out of reach, this theory is the same as Freud's idea of the conscious, preconscious and unconscious mind (Wolpe, 1981). Psychodynamics according to Ccis.edu is a perspective, known to be Sigmund Freud's perspective (Ccis.edu, 2014). They go on to say that Freud made assumptions about human motivation, being propelled by conflicts between the unconscious, instincts and psychological forces, such as the id, ego and superego, some of Freud's most famous work. They also explore Freud's psychosexual stages of development, which consist of levels, in which one has to overcome a challenge, and develop in order to move onto the next stage. Furthermore they argue that one has to identify the underlying conflicts and then in order to resolve and overcome the conflict, one has to bring it to the conscious level. Furthermore they go on to say that psychoanalysis is not scientific and is explore through qualitative methods. They also go on to explain that Jung, Piaget and Erikson all formed their theories around the same basic assumptions, being the idea of the unconscious and the conscious, as well as the influence humans have on behaviour. According to

The biological perspective focuses on the biological basis of behaviour such as brain areas and genetics, suggesting that our behaviour, experience and movements are controlled by the functions of our nervous system (Carlson, 2010). This approach therefore aims to explain the relationship between the mind and body, in addition to the influence of heredity on human behaviour (Glassman and Hadad, 2013). On the other hand, the psychoanalytical perspective is less scientific, as Sigmund Freud who created the approach, focused his research on less measurable aspects such as the Id, Ego and Superego in addition to his psychosexual theory of personality due to him creating the theories before conducting his research (Goodwin, 2005). This approach assumes that all physical symptoms can be drawn back to their psychological causes and that this primarily originates in early childhood, with Freud paying particular attention to parent-child relationships and sexual abuse (Francher, 2000).

To begin with, the psychoanalytic approach is based on psychoanalysis itself and the main critics were Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan who agreed to a certain degree, that a text is fundamentally related with the psyche. Freud strongly believed that our unconscious is affected by events which occurred during childhood and so he divided the human psyche into developmental stages regarding one’s relationship with parents, drives and the pleasure principle. These stages are the oral, anal and the phallic, representing the levels of desire and repression.What he claims is that, what has