Psychological behavior theories examine how the mind, social, environmental, and physiological aspects influence behavior. Erikson, Freud, and Maslow contributed to known theories. Failure to master a stage can lead to abnormal psychological behaviors. Psychological counseling is used to determine the cause of abnormal behaviors.
There are many different theories that try to explain why humans behave the way they do and why people differ in the types of behaviors they exhibit. Psychological behavior is the group of theories that examine behavior from a psychological perspective. Also called behavioral psychology, this methodology focuses not only on how the mind plays a role in behavior, but also on the roles that social, environmental, and physiological aspects play in influencing the mind. Some people in history who have contributed to known theories include Erikson, Freud and Maslow.
Erik Erikson theorized that human development occurs in eight stages from infancy to adulthood. In each of these stages, there are challenges that a person must overcome, such as confidence and ego identity developments. If one phase cannot be mastered, Erikson theorized that the next phase would suffer, similar to a knock-on effect. The result would be an identity crisis that can lead to abnormal psychological health and abnormal psychological behaviors. When each stage is mastered, a person functions and behaves normally.
Sigmund Freud influenced the psychological community and knowledge of psychological behavior with his theories of human behavior. Freud theorized that human development is completely dependent on the successful development of all three parts of the subconscious. The id, ego and superego determine how a person will behave. The proper development of these parts occurs in stages throughout life, which is the same concept that fueled Erikson’s theories. Failure to master a stage causes a problem with personality development and can lead to behavioral problems.
Abraham Maslow and Burrhus Skinner both theorized that psychological behavior is learned. Skinner’s theory suggests that humans learn from positive and negative confirmation of their actions. Maslow’s theory suggests that behavior is based on a person’s needs, such as food and social interaction.
Regardless of which theory is chosen as a guide, psychological behavior is not something that can generally be overlooked. The abnormal behavior varies according to each person; any behavior that seems wrong, such as setting things on fire or committing crimes, is considered abnormal, but the term can also be used to describe actions that are not typically what a person has previously been known to do. The presence of a disorder, such as kleptomania or a phobia, can often cause associated abnormal behaviors as symptoms of the disorder. Kleptomaniacs, for example, feel the urge to steal things for no logical reason. When abnormal behaviors occur, the common course of action is to use psychological counseling to determine the cause, particularly if a psychological disorder is suspected.
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