Behavioral approach
The founder of the movement, John B. Watson, sought to make psychology a rigorous science by excluding subjective concepts such as consciousness. The psyche was viewed as a "black box", and behavior (from English behavior)—a reaction to stimuli—became the main object of study.
An important role was played by Ivan Pavlov's ideas on conditioned reflexes and B.F. Skinner's ideas on operant conditioning (where an action is reinforced through subsequent reward).
Pros: rigorous scientific method, practical applicability (behavioral therapy for phobias). Cons: ignores higher-order processes (thinking, planning), the effect of therapy is often temporary, and it fails to explain character persistence.
Cognitive approach
The focus of the cognitive approach (from Latin cognitio — to get to know) is on the thinking and cognitive processes unique to humans.
- Jean Piaget proved that intelligence develops in stages, from magical thinking to hypothesis generation.
- George A. Kelly developed the theory of personal constructs: a person builds hypotheses about the world to control behavior. Anxiety occurs when a person loses the ability to anticipate events.
- Albert Bandura emphasized the importance of self-assessment (self-efficacy) for successfully overcoming life difficulties.
Features: the approach is successful in treatment, but insufficiently accounts for emotions, motivation, and internal conflicts.
Humanistic psychology
This movement, closely associated with the name Carl Rogers, rejects the pessimistic view of psychoanalysis and behaviorism. It is based on a belief in the positive nature of human beings and their drive for self-actualization.
Psychological problems arise due to a conflict between one's own needs and society's resistance, leading to incongruence. For well-being, a person needs free development and unconditional positive regard.
Application: Rogers' psychotherapy method (client-centered) is effective for patients with low self-esteem or severe illnesses. However, the approach is powerless against antisocial personalities and completely ignores the unconscious.
Briefly: answers to topical questions
In which psychiatric disorders is hyperprosexia most frequently observed?
Hyperprosexia is most commonly observed in acute psychoses. Such conditions, accompanied by strong affects (anxiety, ecstasy, bewilderment), include:
- Delirium — a variant of acute psychosis.
- Mania — a variant of acute psychosis.
- Oneiroid syndrome — a variant of acute psychosis.
- Acute sensate delusion — a variant of acute psychosis.
Hyperprosexia manifests as extreme distractibility, responsiveness to non-essential events, wariness, and unexpected associations. It is considered pathological only with a disproportionate enhancement of passive attention.
Which psychopathological syndromes are characterized by marked exhaustibility of attention?
Marked exhaustibility (rapid fatigability) of attention is characteristic of asthenic states of various origins. Within asthenic syndrome, exhaustibility is part of the core triad of symptoms. Objectively during conversation, it manifests as:
- Progressive fatigue.
- Difficulty in understanding each subsequent question.
- Inaccurate answers, up to refusing further conversation due to lack of energy.
When performing psychometric tests, such as the Bourdon letter cancellation test, exhaustibility manifests as an increase in the number of errors towards the end of the task.
What is aprosexia and in what conditions does it occur?
Aprosexia is the complete loss of the ability to direct and fixate attention. This attention pathology occurs in the following conditions:
- Severe forms of oligophrenia.
- Disorders of consciousness.
How does rigidity (inertia) of attention manifest, and what diseases is it typical for?
Rigidity, or pathological fixation (viscosity) of attention, manifests as a state in which individual (usually unpleasant) facts overshadow all other events. The patient constantly returns to a single topic and cannot switch to other matters. This disorder is closely related to thought viscosity. Pathological fixation of attention occurs in:
- Epilepsy.
- Organic brain diseases.
Class and exam questions
What is the essence of behaviorism?
This approach studies exclusively observable behavior (responses to stimuli), ignoring unobservable mental processes (thinking, emotions).
How does cognitive theory explain anxiety?
According to G. Kelly, anxiety appears when a person loses the ability to anticipate future events and manage the situation using their hypotheses.
What is self-actualization according to Rogers?
This is a person's innate drive to realize their abilities and potential, independent of the approval or condemnation of others.
What else to study on this topic
- Operant conditioning according to B.F. Skinner and the formation of operants
- Stages of intellectual development according to Jean Piaget
- Suicide from the perspective of the cognitive approach (hypotheses and prognoses)
- Development of the activity approach in psychology (Rubinshtein, Leontiev)
- Needs, stress, frustration, and conflict in clinical practice
Master the entire topic in the "Psychiatry" course
This is a summary. The course covers everything tested in classes and exams.
- Complete study guide on "Attention" and 499 more pages of the subject
- Assignments and quizzes after every topic — just like in a colloquium
- AI tutor answers questions on the topic anytime
- 7 video lessons on the subject
Other topics in "Chapter 2. Psychological mechanisms of human behavior"
Prepared by WhiteCoat Pro faculty in accordance with the medical school curriculum. For educational purposes only.