Out Line and Discuss Two Differences Between the Behaviourist and Freudian perspectives.

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Out Line and Discuss Two Differences Between the Behaviourist and Freudian perspectives.

Nature Versus Nurture.

This is an important issue in psychology and as a connection with philosophical rationalist and associatinist ideas going back to ancient Greece. Plato’s philosophy takes the rationalists approach whereas Aristotle takes the accosiationalist approach.

There have been many extreme analyses in the past, some claiming human abilities and characteristics are genetically determined and  inborn, meaning we are born with them and they will emerge as we mature. This is the rationalist’s nature viewpoint.

Others believe nature is shaped by environmental influences, thus human behaviour is learnt as a result of socialisation, the associationist position

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Freud’s theory suggests he was favourable to the nature side of the debate and suggested the mind was like an iceberg with only a small amount visible, that is our observable behaviour and the part submerged being the unconscious mind has the most influence on our behaviour. Freud created three main methods of accessing the unconscious mind, free association, dream analysis and slips of the tongue. He thought the unconscious mind consisted of three components; the id the ego and the super ego. The id includes two main instincts, Eros that is the life instinct that involves self-preservation and sex ...

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