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There are many different approaches to psychology, but which one is the right one? While the answer to that question is far too complicated, we can get a better idea of the strengths and weaknesses of each approach by comparing them.
Comparing the approaches in psychology focuses on their stance in the following debates:
Path to choose, freepik.com/pch.vector
Quantitative research approaches include behavioural psychology, social learning theory, and cognitive and biological psychology. The psychodynamic approach carries out a little quantitative and qualitative analysis. These approaches are nomothetic, meaning that they attempt to gather large amounts of generalised data to make prescriptive judgements about the nature of human psychology.
Quantitative research focuses on statistical analysis and aims to find information that can be generalised to the greater population. It is heavily based on the scientific method, focusing only on what can be directly observed and quantifiably measured.
Qualitative research approaches are idiographic, meaning that they focus more on unique individuals and a more holistic view of each person's psychological profile, as humans differ significantly from one another. An example of this is the humanistic approach.
Qualitative research typically works outside of the scientific method, delving deeper into subjects rather than trying to measure and make prescriptive judgements through observation.
For example, the humanistic approach assumes that quantitative research is reductive and cannot accurately judge the psychology of all humans because everyone is unique.
The biological and humanistic approaches are two very different approaches in psychology. Let's look at the differences and similarities between the biological and humanistic approaches.
The biological approach assumes that human behaviour results from biological, physical processes over which we have no control and may not even be aware. This idea is also known as biological determinism. Its applications mainly lie in drug treatments that aim to alter the biological processes behind our behaviour.
This approach is reductionist, as it uses broad observations of human biology to make judgements about behaviour. It abides by the scientific method and typically uses lab experiments to gather data.
The biological approach is nomothetic and creates generalised, prescriptive judgements about human psychology based on the fact that we all share physiology and may react predictably to specific treatments or activities in the brain.
Because of its focus on physiology as the basis of psychology, it is a natural approach. It often uses animal studies to understand animal behaviour and extrapolate its findings to humans.
The humanistic approach assumes that the self ultimately shapes human behaviour, and we can choose to some degree how we react to things and conduct ourselves. This makes the humanistic approach a free-will approach. Its applications mainly include client-centric talk therapy.
Because of its focus on individual clients and the belief that each person is different and must be individually understood, the approach is holistic. The humanistic approach considers scientifically-based approaches like the biological approach to be reductive, so it works outside of the scientific method.
The humanistic approach is idiographic and focuses on individual-focused, deep analysis of individuals rather than making broad prescriptions about human psychology based on quantitative analysis.
A humanistic approach is an interactionist approach, meaning that it believes a combination of nature and nurture ultimately drives human behaviour to achieve a form of self-actualisation. As the humanistic approach is focused on humans and methods that only humans can participate in (i.e., talk therapy), animals are not typically used.
Nature and biology, freepik.com/freepik
The cognitive and behaviourist approaches have more in common than the previously discussed approaches. Let's look into them and discuss the differences and similarities between the cognitive and behaviourist approaches.
The cognitive approach assumes that our behaviour results from cognitive processes in the brain but that we have the final say on how we choose to act. This makes the cognitive approach a soft deterministic approach, as it leaves room for an element of free will while explaining most behaviour as being a result of things we don't control. The cognitive approach's applications are mainly found in CBT - cognitive behavioural therapy, a style of therapy that aims to assist the client in changing how they think and react to feelings.
The cognitive approach is experimentally reductionist, offering experimental reasonings based on cognitive observations. The cognitive approach uses a combination of lab experiments and brain imaging techniques to understand human behaviour, so it abides by the scientific method and is therefore nomothetic. Concerning case studies, it adopts the idiographic approach.
The cognitive approach holds a neutral position in the nature vs nurture debate and does not use animals in its research, as their cognitive processes differ from ours.
Behaviourism is typically applied in treating phobias (such as the flooding technique) and treating people with PTSD and autism. The behaviourist approach is reductive because of its focus on environmental stimulus/response relationships.
The behaviourist approach assumes that our behaviour is a result of simple stimulus/response combinations that occur when we interact and observe our surroundings. This makes it a determinist approach as it proposes that our environment is responsible for our actions.
The behaviourist approach abides by the scientific method and is nomothetic, generalising its findings around stimulus/response to the broader population. It is on the nurture side of the nature-nurture debate, believing humans are born as blank slates (tabula rasa), and their experience of their environment determines behaviour.
Animals were used heavily in the early stages of this approach's development.
Animal research, freepik.com/pch.vector
Comparing these two approaches is not so simple, as the psychodynamic approach operates on a less black-and-white view of how psychology works. Let's look at the differences and similarities between social learning theory and the psychodynamic approach.
Social learning theory assumes that our behaviour is learned and reinforced by others. This makes SLT an example of reciprocal determinism. It identifies that we are influenced by what we observe but that there is an element of choice regarding whether others reinforce our behaviour and how much we take that reinforcement on board.
SLT has been used to explain how behaviour such as aggression arises and how we can treat it. SLT uses a mixture of environmental and cognitive explanations for behaviour, so it is reductionist but less than, say, the biological approach.
SLT abides by the scientific approach and is nomothetic, believing that we all learn behaviour in the same ways. SLT is an example of a nurture-based approach, as it highlights the importance of the environment in shaping our behaviour. SLT does not use animals in its research.
Freud's psychodynamic approach assumes that human behaviour results from formative experiences from childhood and innate 'drives' (described as the id, ego and superego). This is known as psychic determinism. The psychodynamic approach led to the creation of psychoanalysis, which was an early precursor to our more modern forms of talk therapy.
The psychodynamic approach is holistic, as it places great importance on exploring all areas of one's behaviour. It does not abide by the scientific method and has idiographic and nomothetic elements. It also contains elements of both nature and nurture, as it believes in the importance of innate drives and that early life experience can also influence our behaviour.
The psychodynamic approach does not use animals in its research.
Here's a table comparing the different approaches and their similarities and differences. This should make it easy to remember them all.
| Behavioural | Biological | Cognitive | Social Learning | Psychodynamic | Humanistic | |
| Scientific? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Reductionist or holistic? | Reductionist | Reductionist | Reductionist | Reductionist | Holistic | Holistic |
| Idiographic or nomothetic? | Nomothetic | Nomothetic | Nomothetic | Nomothetic | Both | Idiographic |
| Nature or nurture? | Nurture | Nature | Both | Nurture | Both | Interactionist (both) |
| Deterministic or free will? | Deterministic | Deterministic | Soft deterministic | Soft deterministic | Deterministic | Free-will |
| Real-world use | Phobia treatment | Drug therapy and psychosurgery | CBT | Understanding aggression | Psychoanalysis | Counselling |
| Animal involvement? | Animal studies laid the foundations of this theory. | Animal research is used, especially if similar to humans. | Animals not involved | Animals not involved | Animals not involved | Animals not involved |
There are many different approaches in psychology, including the biological, behavioural, psychodynamic, cognitive, humanistic approaches, and social learning theory.
In psychology, the approaches are different ways of solving problems and looking at the world of psychology.
The cognitive approach is scientific and reductive, while the psychodynamic approach does not follow the scientific method and is holistic.
You can compare approaches in psychology by comparing the functions of each and their attributes.
The cognitive approach assumes that our behaviour is a result of cognitive processes in the brain.
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