Psychological Theories

Psychological Theories Reflection Paper Student's Name Institution Course # and Name Professor's Name Submission Date Psychological Theories Reflection Paper Introduction Individuals choose to take risks because they decide to participate in such actions. Various factors, including emotions, impulsiveness, a lack of planning, and other variables, can cause an increased propensity to take risks. Higher rates of engaging in risk-taking behaviors are linked to a stronger emphasis on the short-term, often good outcomes and a lesser focus on the longer-term, potentially more unfavorable outcomes. Psychology requires an understanding of risk-taking behaviors. The impact of psychological and economic elements on risky behavior has been examined in theories of behaviorism and humanism. This essay investigates how the behaviorist and humanistic perspectives add to our knowledge of risk-taking behaviors. The reasons, processes of learning, and societal influences that underlie these actions will all be discussed in this essay. This paper will contrast and compare these two theories. This will help identify a theory that, when backed by psychological research and cultural factors, offers a better understanding of risk-taking behaviors. Psychological Theories Humanistic Theory The humanistic approach emphasizes the distinct qualities of optimal well-being, the utilization of one's creative capacity to benefit others, and the social conditions that promote these qualities as natural outcomes of normal development. Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers focused on the potential for personal development in individuals who are in good mental health (Joseph, 2021). They believed that every individual has a desire to achieve self-actualization. The theories of Maslow and Rogers have greatly enhanced individuals' understanding of themselves. Their ideology greatly emphasized self-determination and free will, advocating that individuals should aspire to reach their highest potential. It strongly emphasizes studying people, paying particular attention to their innermost thoughts, feelings, and potential for self-actualization. Humanistic psychologists emphasize people's subjective experiences and perceptions rather than restricting behavior to merely observable stimuli and responses (Brennan & Houde, 2022). Compared to Rogers, Abraham Maslow had a more nuanced understanding of human needs. Maslow recognized that humans had a range of wants that varied in timing and priority, in contrast to Rogers' theory that everyone needs unconditional positive regard. The Humanistic Perspective's focus on personal accountability and autonomy is a crucial factor that supports its suitability for analyzing risk-taking behaviors. Humanistic psychology aligns with most people's understanding of human nature due to its emphasis on individual aspirations and self-actualization (McLeod, 2023). Taking a chance entails making decisions that could have unforeseen or unfavorable results. The humanistic perspective provides a foundation for comprehending why people act in these ways, emphasizing people's agency and responsibility in making choices consistent with their goals, values, and desires. Furthermore, because humanistic psychology considers an individual's environment and personal views and feelings, it offers researchers a versatile framework for analyzing human behavior. The Humanistic Perspective challenges individuals to reflect on the deeper meanings and motivations behind risk-taking behaviors rather than seeing it as solely illogical or impulsive conduct, eventually clarifying the complex nature of human behavior and decision-making. Behaviorism Theory The fundamental principle of behaviorism as a learning theory states that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, which results from interactions with the environment, prominent behaviorists such as B.F. Skinner and Ivan Pavlov focus on investigating how environmental stimuli elicit observable responses in individuals (Staddon, 2021). They contend that classical and operant conditioning methods, in which connections between stimuli and responses are established based on rewards and punishments, are responsible for the acquisition of behaviors (Marr, 2016). Behaviorists hold that environmental cues influence people's behavior. This school of thought holds that behavior can be observed and examined methodically, independent of internal mental states. Comparison of the Theories According to behaviorism, environmental influences and the outcomes of one's actions influence risk propensity. Behaviorists hold that learning happens when a stimulus creates a response that is either punished or reinforced. Since punishment reduces the potential of repeating a behavior while reinforcement augments it, people are inclined to take risks because they have learned to associate particular behaviors with particular results. Strict behaviorists maintain that all individuals can acquire any skill within the limits of their physical capabilities, irrespective of their genetic makeup, personality characteristics, or internal mental processes (Moore, 2016). The only requirement is suitable conditioning. The behaviorist and humanistic perspectives were chosen primarily because of their ability to provide a structured framework for watching and ...