Advantages and Disadvantages of Psychological Theories - Coursework Example

Advantages and Disadvantages of Psychological Theories The study and practice of psychology is based principally on theories. The general conclusions and assumptions of psychological theories, unlike other sciences such as biology, chemistry or physics, are not widely accepted because the instigating factors determining human behaviours are varied and complex. As an example, physics employs mathematics to test theories but the psychological explanation of the unconscious mind cannot be as accurately defined or confirmed. In addition, the theories of other sciences are more tangible. Gravity is a theory that has yet to be proven yet the fact that it occurs is universally accepted. By contrast, the most basic questions concerning behaviour have yet to be answered or accepted by the whole of the professional and academic psychological community. Disagreements abound regarding the existence and functions of the unconscious mind, the genesis of human motivations and whether behaviour is influenced more by genetic, social or physiological causes. Unlike other sciences, there are many viable systematic methods of explaining human behaviour. This discussion examines the advantages and disadvantages of evolutionary psychology and Freud’s theory of unconscious thought as explained by conflicting methodologies. The foundation of evolutionary psychological theory relies on the principle that considerable components of human cognitive capabilities are inherent, derived from genetic coding. This logic is based on the assumption that the brain/mind, much as the body, evolves functional modifications so as to adapt to its environment. The evolution theory applies to the body at least to a great degree but to draw an evolutionary connection to the mind is, by some estimations, flawed reasoning. People have the ability to learn and generally pass along learned behavioural guidelines to subsequent generations. The passing of learned behaviour from generation to generation is commonly referred to as ‘culture.’ The process of learned and cultural adaptations occur much more rapidly than does evolution via genetic means therefore are much more proficient in producing practical adaptations. Consequently, learned behavioural modifications are more influential than inherited mental capacities thus are dominant. Because genetic alterations of the mind are unnecessary there is no scientific reasoning that could explain the need for evolution by this method. “Since learning and cultural adaptation and functional degradation of unselected abilities are all fast processes in evolutionary scale, we shouldn’t expect innate mental abilities that can be learned with or without cultural effects to exist at all” (Dawkins, 1989). The study of evolutionary psychology is not without its detractors. However, it has contributed to science in that it aids in the development of pertinent questions regarding human behaviour which can then be further addressed by researchers. There have been many fields of psychological study in which the evolutionary model has spawned innovative theories. The study of evolutionary psychology has led to noteworthy insights into cognitive explanations for behaviour and initiated new guidelines for further research and understanding of human behaviour. An example is in the area of psychological distinctions involving gender. The study of evolutionary psychology has been employed to explain why men and women become jealous when infidelity is introduced to a long-term relationship. In both cases jealousy emanates because of reproductive issues that date back to ancestral times and through genetics, still exists in the human mind today. Men, it is theorized, experience jealousy for sexual reasons because the offspring of the partner is in question therefore stifles his ability to reproduce. Women become jealous for emotional reasons stemming from their fear that a female rival will reproduce while they will not. The need to produce offspring was strong and necessary for the propagation of the species when humans lived in small, isolated groups. This emotion, much as the ‘fight or flight’ reaction is a leftover from the beginnings of mankind yet survives in the genetic code (Buunk et al, 1996). “This view assumes that the human mind is composed of a number of domain-specific, highly tuned systems designed by selection to solve specific sets of problems that would have recurrently confronted ancestral humans in their natural environment” (Barkow et al, 1992). Thus, evolutionary psychology has provided viable reasoning for the emotion of jealousy and the subsequent behavioural response. Applying the evolutionary principle allows for the interjection of novel concepts to help explain the very complex sphere of behaviour where many external and internal factors are in play. An example can be found when studying the topic of violent actions against children by adults that lead to the death of a child, a very puzzling behavioural issue. Research that does not employ evolutionary thinking suggests that because society, historically speaking, has condoned parents disciplining their children by means of corporal punishment, deaths are at times the consequence when the situation escalates beyond the norm, a simplistic answer that does not address the underlying causes. Evolutionary psychology rejects this explanation because the innate need to reproduce generated the need to protect offspring, an emotion as strong today as it was in the earliest beginnings of mankind, maintained through an inherited trait. This trait is common in most mammals. Killing one’s own children is inconsistent with the evolution theory. A study found that a child who lived with a step-parent was 100 times more likely to be killed by their parents and 40 times more at risk to experience severe physical maltreatment than are children who live with their biological mother and father. The study reported that “living in a household with a step-parent was the single most significant risk factor for being abused as a child” (Daly & Wilson, 1999). If not for the evolutionary point of view, the original question that initiated research such as this likely would not have been asked. Because of evolutionary psychology, this and other insights to human behaviour have been uncovered such as in the area of antisocial personality obsessive-compulsive and eating disorders, anxiety and depression. This controversial genre of psychological study has been helpful in that it has opened the doors to questions that might not otherwise have been asked and answers that expand the understanding of human behaviours. Sigmund Freud’s understanding of the unconscious mind, the effects of hypnosis in the treatment of the mind as well as why these effects manifested themselves ultimately led to his development of the psychoanalytic process and the concepts therein. Through the concept of the preconscious mind, Freud introduced the possibility that the conscious and unconscious mind were indeed linked in sophisticated ways, each affecting the other in a process ultimately geared toward protection and defense against traumatic events. Through his work, the concept that some conditions, such as hysteria, were actually mental conditions brought out by things remembered in the subconscious, became more widely accepted and the means of treating these illnesses became more scientific as well as more humanistic. As people began to realize the effects of trauma, more and more attention was given to preventing the trauma to begin with through legal and social means. As more and more people began to understand the concepts Freud brought forward, such as dream imagery, Freudian slips and subconscious fears, his work also began to affect many other fields outside of the strict realm of psychiatry. Literary works began to take on new depth of character, or new modes of communication, such as Gertrude Stein’s free association exploration novel with the simple Freudian title “Id”. Literary criticism also took on new flavor as not only the characters, but the authors were examined for their mental state at the time of writing or for true to life motivations for actions taken. Film was equally affected as the viewing public demanded a more realistic, full-bodied and full-minded character regardless of the film genre. Another field significantly affected by Freud’s theories was that of philosophy. As more and more understanding emerged regarding the ideas Freud brought forward, such as transference, libido and repression, as well as the involvement of dreams in revealing what this inner mind was thinking, philosophy began to take a closer look at such theories as Marxism and feminist ideas. Even the world of advertising was overhauled with the widespread acceptance of Freud’s ideas as commercials began to take on more subconscious imagery as a means of selling a product by appealing to a deeper level of being (Gabora, 2002) As popular and as important as Freud’s theory regarding the unconscious mind has been in psychological and social arenas, an objective observer of Freud’s viewpoint, employing current science knowledge is obliged to question his hypotheses. Current neurological and cognitive scientific research generally concurs that the central nervous system possesses a good deal of information unconsciously and that learned habits can be executed without the person being consciously aware. The unconscious mind is unneeded to account for either cognitive action. “The idea of non-conscious processes is very different from that of an unconscious mind conceived as a source of psychological motivation. Ideas of repressed trauma, sub-personalities, psychic energies, mythopoeia functions and mental life unknown to its possessor, constitute a speculative and highly questionable mixture” (Grayling, 2002). However, Freud’s theory is dependent on the concept that the unconscious mind and non-conscious processes are one in the same. Freud’s reasoning relies on believing that the concept of the mind’s existence including emotions, intentions, reasons and motives are tied to unconscious thoughts, that if these thoughts are known to the conscious mind it is merely due to their observed effect on behavioural outcomes. To wholly subscribe to Freud’s theory implies that humans experience pains that are not felt. Therefore, “the expression unconscious mind appears paradoxical” (Grayling, 2002). Freud proposed his theories in a time when most people believed that thought was essentially rational in nature. He demonstrated that a great deal of behavior is centered within the realm of biology. At that time, people believed the individual was wholly liable for their behaviour. He showed that society had a great impact on behaviour. People thought that God alone determined gender roles and Freud provided evidence that roles were dependent upon the dynamics within the family. Many of his theories are obviously associated with the time he lived and are now are held to a higher, more learned critical standard. However, even today, new psychological theories are compared with his. References Barkow, J. H., Cosmides, L. & Tooby, J. (1992) The Adapted Mind : Evolutionary Psychology and the Generation of Culture. New York : Oxford University Press. Buunk, A. P., Angleitner, A., Oubaid, V., et al. (1996) “Sex differences in jealousy in evolutionary and cultural perspective: Tests from the Netherlands, Germany and the United States.” Psychological Science. Vol. 7, pp. 359-363. Daly, M. & Wilson, M. (1988) Homicide. New York : Aldine De Gruyter. Dawkins, Richard. (1989). The Selfish Gene. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Grayling, AC. (22 June 2002). “Scientist or Storyteller?” Guardian Unlimited. Gabora, Liane. (2002). “Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying the Creative Process.” Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Creativity and Cognition. T. Hewett & T. Kavanagh (Eds.). Loughborough University, pp. 126-133. Read More