Psychology: The Study of the Mind and Behavior

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Psychology Concepts:
Psychology is a term derived from two Greek words that translate to life explanation, which makes it an important element of daily life. The field of psychology can be described as a discipline that focuses on the study of mind and behavior. This discipline is characterized by several concepts and approaches that are used by psychologists in understanding human behavior. Since psychology is a broad field, psychologists not only use these concepts and approaches but also conduct scientific research that enables them to understand human behavior. Some of the most common psychological concepts that are used to modify or change an individual’s behavior include operant conditioning, positive and negative punishment, and positive and negative reinforcement.
Operant condition can be described as a learning method that is used to modify or change a person’s behavior through experiences and consequences. While it is part of the process of conditioning, this method of learning is different from classical conditioning in terms of its emphasis on reinforcement and punishment to modify behavior. The subsequent behavior from this learning method functions on the environment and is sustained by experiences and consequences. Generally, the method is used to change behavior through establishing a specific goal, evaluating behavior, reinforcing desired behavior, and punishing undesired behavior. The ethical concern that may arise from the use of this method is that an individual is likely to be discouraged from attempting to do a certain task when he/she knows that he/she will be unable to complete it and get a reward. A real life example of operant conditioning occurred recently in our home when my little was rewar...

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...quence. For instance, an individual can take medication to prevent himself/herself from contacting a particular disease or illness. This method has some ethical concerns including the likelihood of an individual never to attempt certain things in future if initial attempts to avoid a negative consequence are unsuccessful.
In conclusion, the discipline or psychology has several concepts and approaches that are used in understanding human behavior. These concepts and approaches are used to modify, control, reinforce, or change an individual’s behavior. The use of different approaches and methods for behavior change and modification is attributed to the lack of one specific means that is universally applicable to all situations. The method to use to promote behavior modification or change in a specific situation is dependent on the desired outcome of the process.

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