Approach Assumptions Nature/Nurture Methods Explanations Application to

(Scientific or not, for abnormal the real world

nomothetic/idiographic behaviour
In psychology, The The behaviourist The In real-world
Learning. the behaviourist behaviourists approach primarily behaviourist settings,
Behaviourism approach approach utilizes scientific approach sees behaviourism is
assumes that focuses on methods, emphasizing abnormal used in
interactions with observable observable behaviours behaviour as education to
the environment behaviours and and measurable learned shape student
teach behaviour. learning outcomes. It leans responses to the behaviour, in
It rejects experiences. It towards nomothetic environment. It therapy for
internal thinking emphasizes methods, aiming to focuses on treating phobias
processes in environmental establish general observable and anxiety,
favour of influences principles of behaviour behaviour’s and and in business
emphasising (nurture) over through controlled suggests that to enhance
observable innate factors experiments and they can be workplace
behaviours. (nature) in observation. modified performance
According to shaping through through
this viewpoint, behaviour and conditioning techniques like
rewards and personality. techniques like positive
penalties can be reinforcement reinforcement
used to change and and
behaviour, punishment. performance
which is seen as feedback.
predictable.

Learning: According to The social The social learning The social Social learning
Social learning the social learning theory theory in psychology learning theory theory is used
theory learning theory, emphasizes uses scientific methods, suggests in education,
we pick up new how people observing how abnormal therapy, and
skills by learn from individuals learn behaviour can everyday life. It
imitating the observing through modelling. It be learned by explains how
actions of others and the combines both general observing and people learn by
others. It environment. It laws and individual imitating observing
emphasises how highlights the experiences in its others, others and is
cognitive role of both approach. especially applied in
processes, individual significant teaching,
imitation, and characteristics social models. parenting, and
observation all (nature) and It highlights the therapy to
play a part in social impact of understand and
 how we pick up influences reinforcement, modify
knowledge from (nurture) in punishment, behaviours.
our shaping and cognitive
environment. behaviour and processes in
development. shaping
behaviour.
Cognitive The cognitive The cognitive The cognitive approach The cognitive The cognitive
approach approach in psychology typically approach links approach in
assumes that examines how employs scientific abnormal psychology
thoughts affect thoughts and methods, aiming for behaviour to applies theories
behaviour, perceptions objectivity and distorted of mental
studying how influence replicability. It thinking processes to
people perceive, behaviour. It combines both patterns, improve
think, and emphasizes the nomothetic (general focusing on learning,
remember. role of mental principles) and irrational therapy, and
processes idiographic (individual beliefs and decision-
(nature) and differences) approaches dysfunctional making in the
learning to understand cognitive cognition. real world.
experiences processes such as Therapy aims to
(nurture) in perception, memory, challenge these
shaping and problem-solving. distortions for
cognition and more adaptive
behaviour. behaviour.
Biological The biological The biological The biological The biological
approach in approach approach in psychology The biological approach in
psychology emphasizes the mainly uses scientific approach psychology
emphasises the role of genetics methods, focusing on attributes uses biology to
significance of and brain nomothetic approaches. abnormal understand
comprehending chemistry It employs techniques behaviour to behaviour. It
how biology (nature) in like neuroimaging and genetics, brain applies
impacts human influencing genetic studies to study chemistry, and genetics, brain
behaviour by behaviour and the biology-behaviour neurological functions, and
assuming that mental link. factors. It chemicals to
behaviours and processes. It suggests that explain mental
mental also considers imbalances in processes and
processes are how these processes disorders.
influenced by environmental can lead to
biological factors, such as mental health
elements such diet and stress disorders.
heredity, brain (nurture),
structure, and interact with
neurochemistry. biological
factors to shape
psychological
functioning.
Psychodynamic The The
psychodynamic psychodynamic The psychodynamic The In real-world
approach approach approach uses psychodynamic applications,
assumes that focuses on idiographic methods, approach links the
behaviour is unconscious focusing on individual abnormal psychodynamic
 influenced by drives (nature) cases and personal behaviour to approach is
unconscious and early experiences, though unresolved used in therapy
processes, early experiences less strictly scientific conflicts and to explore
childhood (nurture) in and more interpretative. unconscious unconscious
experiences shaping desires from conflicts and
shape behaviour and early life. early
personality, and personality. Therapy aims to experiences
unresolved uncover and influencing
conflicts can resolve these behaviour.
lead to conflicts
psychological through
disorders. techniques like
free association
and dream
analysis.
Humanistic The humanistic The humanistic The humanistic The humanistic In the real
approach in approach in approach leans towards approach sees world, the
psychology psychology idiographic methods, abnormal humanistic
assumes that sees humans as focusing on individuals' behaviour as a approach
individuals are naturally good unique experiences and struggle for encourages
inherently good and capable of perspectives. While it personal growth personal growth
and strive for growth. It values scientific and self- and self-
self- emphasizes inquiry, it often fulfilments. It actualization.
actualization, both innate integrates qualitative suggests that It's often
the realization qualities approaches to explore issues arise applied in
of their full (nature) and personal meanings and when therapy settings
potential. It environmental self-awareness. individuals to help
emphasizes influences can't align their individuals
personal (nurture) in self-concept explore their
growth, freedom shaping with their inner potential
of choice, and individuals' experiences. and improve
the importance well-being and Treatment their well-
of subjective fulfilment. involves being.
experiences in fostering self-
understanding awareness and
human promoting
behaviour. personal
growth.