Essay on Psychology Theories and Self-Reflection - 2684 Words

Running Head: PSYCHOLOGY THEORIES AND SELF-REFLECTION 1 Psychology Theories and Self-Reflection PSYCHOLOGY THEORIES AND SELF-REFLECTION Psychology Theories and Self-Reflection Introduction â€Å"Scientific psychology has four basic goals: to describe, explain, predict, and change behaviour and mental processes through the use of scientific methods† (Carpenter Huffman, 2008, p. 5). The goal of this paper is not to debate the psychological perspectives, but to give a general focus on three of the more dominant psychological theories, by describing and explaining how the theories relate to personal life experiences, which, in turn, will enable the reader to understand the theories in a more practical way. Some questions that may come†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Modern cognitive psychologists study how we gather, encode, and store information using a vast array of mental processes† (Carpenter Huffman, 2008). The most prominent figures in cognitivism are Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis. Both Beck and Ellis believed the application of cognitive theory could be us ed in overcoming various negative aspects of personality. The belief was, with a change in thought processes, the behaviour and emotion that went hand in hand with those thoughts would change. Research has supported this idea, this is especially so with certain disorders, such as depression and anxiety. The modern belief is that cognitive-behavioural treatment, which is the cognitive perspective combined with techniques such as relaxation, have better results than medication in the treatment of depression (Heffner, 2004). â€Å"Cognitive theory defines learning as „a semi-permanent change in mental processes or associations.‟ Cognitivists do not require an outward exhibition of learning but focus more on the internal processes and connections that take place during learning† (Culatta, 2011). â€Å"I think therefore I have a personality† (Cherry, 2011). From self-help books, to positive self-talk, there is a continuous stream of cognitive psychology in play during daily life. Change your thoughts and you can just about do anything; quit smoking, make more friends, improveShow MoreRelatedPsychology Theories Self Reflection2594 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes. It is a broad discipline which seeks to analyze the human mind and study why people behave, think, and feel the way they do. There are many different ways to approach psychology, from examining biologys role in mental health to the role of the environment on behavior. Some psychologists focus only on how the mind develops, while others counsel patients to help improve their daily lives. 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