Psychology of Behaviour: Understanding Psychological Approaches and their Application in Public Services

PSYCHOLOGY OF
BEHAVIOUR

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Psychological perspectives and Identification of effect of social influences on behaviour...1
Investigation of theories of criminal behaviour and casual factors........................................4
Assessment of how psychological perspectives are applied in public services.....................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Psychology is a wide area of study and practice which is associated with mind, as well as
behaviour of individuals. Its discipline and scope is quite vast due to multiple facets and layers
due to immense heterogeneity of human mindsets and difficulty in tapping their behaviour. There
are several ways in which certain psychological approaches are very well applied which are
associated with provision of public services, as well as include anticipation and judging criminal
behaviour (Gifford and Nilsson, 2014).
Hence, in regards to this, the essay below is associated with psychology of behaviour
which includes understanding of psychological approaches and applying them within public
services. It takes into account the murder case of 1993 of James Patrick Bulger who was a 2 year
old infant and murdered by two 10 year old individuals. Therefore, the essay would cover
investigation of psychological perspective, along with identification of effect of social influences
on behaviour. Furthermore, it also covers a detailed investigation of several theories of criminal
behaviour and casual factors associated with the same. In addition, the essay would address
assessment of how psychological perspectives are applied in public services effectively.
MAIN BODY
Psychological perspectives and Identification of effect of social influences on behaviour
Within psychology, there are several perspectives which are very necessary to be taken
into account, considering the impact they have on human behaviour. Moreover, explanation and
analysis of these perspectives also allows in determining their similarities, as well as the
differences between them towards explanation of human behaviour (Gwyther and Holland,
2014).
One of the major approaches that are used in psychology is Biological Approach.
According to this, the human behaviour is set to be affected through their genetic makeup and
hormones. This approach takes into account the structural level of human body, their cellular
level as well as functionality of their nervous system which explains their behaviour effectively.
For an instance, as witnessed within the case that parents of both the culprits, Robert Thompson
and Jon Venables, were very violent by nature and even alcoholic in the case of the former.
Hence, habits and addictions are likely to be transferred with the genes to the offspring and
similar actions and cellular makeup could be witnessed in the children.
1

Another major theory or perspective used in psychology is Behavioural Approach,
according to which, the external stimuli, as well as an individual’s environment are determinants
of one’s behaviour and actions (Gross and McIlveen, 2016). It completely outcasts the concept
of free will and works on the principle that a certain kind of behaviour and action is mostly
learnt, which is associated with the fact that personal experiences shapes up mind frame and
psychology of people. As an example, both the individuals involved in the case study had a
history of violent behaviour and ineffective conduct of life, which was reflected through the
situation, and environment they were grown up into, which was full of violence and disregard,
which shaped up their behaviour.
Both these approaches and perspectives are very crucial towards providing an explanation
towards human behaviour and psychology. However, there are some very imperative similarities
and differences that are required to be taken into account. As for similarities, both these
perspectives have common implications of individuals having no free will and their behaviour is
stimulated either through their genes and biological system or external environment stimulus.
This is very imperative to understand towards explanation of human behaviour, as both these
approaches exercise control over the mindset and psychology of people, which restricts
formation of their own behaviour and actions; rather it gets moulded through their genes or
experiences.
In relation to differences however, one difference between these perspectives is that where
biological approach leads to consideration of nature and biological elements like hormones and
genes towards controlling of the behaviour, behavioural perspective considers the environment
as a stimulant for human psychology.
Apart from these approaches, it is also imperative that group influence, conformity and
obedience are appropriately researched into as they too are determinants of human behaviour.
Group influence refers to the phenomenon where activities of a certain group or social circle
affects and influences behaviour and mindset of a person. On the other hand, conformity is
surrendering of a person towards group pressure. Moreover, obedience in this context refers to
agreeing to instructions or mindset of others and adopting the same (Scott-Parker, King and
Watson, 2015).
There are several ways in which human behaviour is influenced by groups. One such way
is through De-individuation. This means that people tend to lose their self awareness after being
2