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Outline
Studying human behavior can be complex and various theories have been used for this purpose. Some approaches to the study of human behavior have taken a broad perspective while others have heavily relied on the nature of the human being to achieve results. Social constructionist and biological approaches are some of the theories used in such study each giving different results due to the different areas of emphasis in such study. But whatever the approach, the nature of man cannot totally be ignored because it is from this standpoint that every approach must begin its study.
Introduction
Human behavior or human nature can be described as that collection of character traits or behaviors that are exhibited by human beings. Such behavior is influenced by several factors both internal and external for example, genetic factors, emotions, authority, values and culture among others. The study of human behavior has been carried out through various academic disciplines, one of them being psychology. Social constructionist and biological approaches are some of the theoretical perspectives that have been used in the psychological study of human behavior.
Social constructionist approach Vs biological approach
Social construction is a field of psychology that has diverse dimensions as well as purposes. Apart from offering an alternative viewpoint on understanding human behavior and his actions in relation to the surrounding environment, the social constructionist approach critically analyses the existing psychological theories and practices (Gillon:151-152).
The biological approach on the other hand is a branch of psychology that attempts to derive an understanding of human behavior through the explicit study of physiology and anatomy especially concentrating on the human brain. Through this approach, there is an assumption that body and mind are interrelated and that personality disorders and traits can therefore be influenced by both nurture and nature (Harris, Ball, Riegel & Taubenblat:9). According to this approach, human behavior is highly determined by several physiological and biological agents such as neuron-transmitters and hormones among others. The nervous system (brains) and genes are the most important agents in understanding the person through this approach (Sharpsteen: 14, 725).
Through the social constructionist approach, a person stops being an individual or single and fixed self and instead views the person as possessing some elasticity that enables the individual to adopt different patterns and shapes related to surrounding relationships and circumstances that he or she is involved in. With time, different contextual versions of identity become sedimented within a person to produce a sense of self that becomes consistent with the person. Social construction, therefore, discourages the psychological approach of assessing an individual as a totally separate identity and emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships in understanding human behavior (Gillon: 153-155). The biological approach on the other hand strongly holds to the view that nothing psychological can take place unless there is a body and communication takes place among the various parts of the body thus the importance of neuroscience. Physiology and anatomy explain human behavior based on the biological approach (Smith & Lyles:21&26).
The social constructionist approach to human behavior relates human life to interpersonal and social influences. According to this perspective, social and psychological factors influence reality and the use of language is very important in understanding such influences. The use of language in narratives, history and mythology to derive collective meaning in individual personal experiences is highly emphasized. Individual behavior can easily be understood through an analysis of historical and cultural patterns that shape the world and its power relationships (Greene:341-342). According to the biological approach, there is a general assumption that learning/information/knowledge is a result of an individual’s cumulative experiences and is stored in some form of collective memory (Smith & Lyles: 24).
According to social constructionists, the client is treated as an expert and a lot of effort is applied in trying to understand the various views of reality the client may hold. Through interviews, the client’s views guide the therapist in understanding his or her behaviors and the therapist is therefore no recognized as an expert. Collaboration helps involve the client in determining the treatment process while dialogue creates tolerance between the therapist and client. This approach creates room for reflection by abandoning the idea of objective truth or single reality (Greene: 343-344). The biological approach on the other hand trains psychiatrists to handle behavioral disorders and administer medication to manage the same. Though this approach of human behavior has greatly helped medical experts to come up with possible treatments for various psychological disorders through the assistance of modern medical devices like PET scans, CAT scans, EEGs and MRIs; the client plays a minimal role in the treatment process. Abnormal human behavior is largely associated with physiological and genetic factors while undermining the influence that would result from environmental conditions and experiences nature (Harris, Ball, Riegel & Taubenblat: 112).
The social constructionist approach is a better methodology for understanding human behavior than the biological approach. This is because unlike the latter, the former helps to draw attention to social, cultural, political and economic processes that have given rise to knowledge and from which various claims have been made. Social constructionism challenges the idea of objective truth discovered through science and instead highlights or points out a link between science, politics and society (Goldblatt: 25 & 29).
Conclusion
While social constructionists may be regarded as a better approach to understanding human behavior, some of its views place too much emphasis on social processes while sidelining physical and material experience. They also underplay the influence that nature is bound to have on culture and the subsequent production of knowledge (Goldblatt: 29). The biological approach may on the other hand be considered a weaker approach but has greatly helped to establish a link between mental disorders and genetic factors that possibly lead to abnormal human behavior thus helping to come up with new treatment procedures (Harris, Ball, Riegel & Taubenblat:112).
References
Gillon, E.2007. Person-centered counseling psychology: an introduction. Seminole, FL: SAGE.
Goldblatt,S.D. 2004. Knowledge and the social sciences: theory, method, practice. London, UK: Routledge.
Greene, R.R.2000. Human behavior theory and social work practice; second edition. Piscataway, NJ: Aldine Transaction.
Harris, A.L., Ball, T.K., Riegel, G.D. & Taubenblat, S.L. 2005. CliffsAP psychology: an America book works corporation project. New York: Wiley – Default.
Sharpsteen, J.D. 2005. The best test preparation for the CLEP introductory psychology: introductory psychology. Piscataway, NJ: Research & Education Assoc.
Smith, E.M. & Lyles, A.M. 2006. The Blackwell handbook of organizational learning and knowledge management. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
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