Why Psychology Needs Multiple Perspectives

• Psychology is the rigorous and systematic study of behaviour.

• Human behaviour is especially complex because humans have highly developed frontal lobes, self-awareness and advanced cognitive abilities.

• Humans also live within complex social structures and cultures.

• Different psychological approaches have therefore evolved to provide a multi-perspective understanding of human beings.

• Perspective allows behaviour to be interpreted and examined from different viewpoints.

No Single Perspective Is Sufficient

• No single psychological perspective can sufficiently explain human behaviour on its own.

• Each approach provides a different way to interpret and examine behaviour.

• A multi-perspective understanding recognizes that different approaches can contribute different explanations.

• In an examination, avoid assuming that one perspective provides a complete explanation of complex human behaviour.

Sociocultural Perspective: Holism, Emic and Etic

• The sociocultural approach is given as an example of how a perspective contains assumptions about behaviour and research.

• It takes a more holistic approach to understanding behaviour.

• Both emic and etic methodologies are associated with the sociocultural perspective.

• Emic perspectives/approaches and etic perspectives/approaches are therefore key related terms for Perspective.

• Use these terms when relevant to explaining how behaviour can be examined from differing sociocultural viewpoints.

Indigenous Perspectives and Alternative Interpretations

• Perspectives of Indigenous people are explicitly included among the terms related to Perspective.

• Alternative explanations and interpretations are also central related terms.

• These reinforce the principle that behaviour can be understood through more than one psychological viewpoint.

• When evaluating an explanation, consider whether another relevant perspective could provide an alternative interpretation.

The Three DP Psychology Approaches

Assumptions and Research Beliefs

• Each psychological perspective or approach is based on assumptions about behaviour.

• Perspectives also involve beliefs about how psychological research should be conducted.

• These assumptions influence the way psychologists approach the examination and interpretation of behaviour.

• When discussing perspective, identify the viewpoint being used and recognize that another perspective may interpret behaviour differently.

Theories, Models and Research Methodology

• Psychological theories and psychological models are explicitly related to the concept of Perspective.

• Different perspectives may provide different frameworks through which behaviour is examined.

• Deductive research methodology and data analysis is listed as a related term.

• Inductive research methodology and data analysis is also listed as a related term.

• In exam responses, link relevant theories, models or methodologies clearly to the perspective they represent rather than naming them without explanation.