A Comparison of Psychological and Sociological Schools of Thought

This essay provides a comparative analysis of psychological and sociological schools of thought, focusing on a health and social care issue, specifically the challenges faced by young, single mothers. The essay begins by exploring various psychological frameworks, including Carl Rogers' theory and different schools such as structuralism, functionalism, and Gestalt psychology, providing insights into the mental processes and behaviors of individuals. It then delves into key sociological frameworks, such as Emile Durkheim's social theory, functionalism, and the concept of anomie, to understand how societal structures and norms influence individual experiences. The essay also examines the psychosocial theory of Erik Erikson to illustrate how these theoretical perspectives aid in understanding attitudes, behaviors, and social organization. The essay concludes by summarizing the interplay of psychological and sociological factors in addressing the issue of motherhood and its impact on the individual and society.

Compare and contrast a psychological school of
thoughts with a socio-logic school of thoughts with
reference to a current health and social care issue

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
Knowledge of different schools of thought in psychology.........................................................3
An understanding of key theoretical frameworks in sociology..................................................4
Recognition of how psycho-social theory and research aids the social sciences understandings
of attitudes, behaviours and social organisation.........................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

Introduction
The psychological and social thoughts refers to a set of idea which establish a mind set of
an individual. A person consider their own psychology about specific aspects along with social
thoughts by making any opinion (Sloman and Lagnado, 2015). In context of this report, it is
based in the issue of motherhood that consist the young alone motherhood and their psychology.
It will focus on knowledge of different schools of thoughts of psychology and sociology.
Main Body
Knowledge of different schools of thought in psychology
Carl roger theory is known as a psychological framework that was primarily discovered
by a great psychologist named Carl Roger. In 1939, he published first book called “The Clinical
treatment of the Problem Child”. He said that a person to grow and provide them with
genuineness (self disclosure and openness) acceptance (unconditional positive regard) and
empathy, they need an this type of environment. He given three concept on the basis individual
can move forward and became able: congruence, unconditional positive regards, accurate
emphatic. In the motherhood Rogers was consider that when the affirmative regard is
unconditional towards their children, mothers love and support that are freely granted not
conditional on the child's behaviour. Roger create an real self and idea self based positive regard
of conditional status.

Psychology define as process of mental and behaviour. The psychology first appear in the
science which is isolated from philosophy and biology. The school of psychology means system
of thoughts and a unit of psychologists who became connected with the motion of person
(Mittelstaedt and et. al., 2014). About psychology they shared same opinion to others that they
studied. there are some important thoughts of school in context of motherhood are structuralism,
gestalt psychology, behaviourism, rationalism, empiricism, functionalism and associationism.
Rationalism: it detect the mind of human as a entity that controlled natural qualities to
identify the concept without any experience of those thoughts which is perceived by human
mind.
For a independent of sense perception it is the source of knowledge that is superior. By
motherhood and a alone young mothers detect a child mind and identify their thoughts and what
they want by mother. In rationalism a mother read the child mind and tackle them lonely, But
sometime they need some other strengths that mother is not be able for to do, by father and by
some family member.
Structuralism- It deals with the “science of immediate experience” By some basic
receptive information the complex perceptual experience can b increased. It literally means
'looking within” to depict a persons perceptions, memory, motivations, cognitive processes. In
structuralism the motherhood focused on breaking down the mental processes into some basic
element.
Functionalism- It is studied by trained contemplation, in this concept the study of mental
experience of cognitive state. It is worked on mind adaptations and functions. Unlike some of
other famous schools thought in psychology (Jennings and et. al., 2015). It is nor related with a
individual controlling theorist. Motherhood is compared with thought, memory, testimony,
reason as a point of knowledge.
Gestalt Psychology- It based upon the concept that “the shape or essence of an whole
complete form” . It is entire is greater than the sum of parts. For the breakup of elements form
whole situation gestalt theory allows it. In motherhood product is a perception of tangled action
with several stimuli.
Psychoanalysis – It states that many mind is unconsciousness , it conflict urges, impulses
and wishes. People are impelled to satisfy these conflicts, but people are motivates and curious to
show decent.

An understanding of key theoretical frameworks in sociology
Theoretical framework can be define as a structure that supports or holds a theory in a
research study. It generally consist of concepts and sometimes definitions related to problems
within the existing research study. The selection theoretical framework must be based on
appropriateness, ease of explanation and its application. It is important for sociology to follow
theoretical aspects as a framework for determine phenomena, such as different ways of people to
form groups or how a society functions along with how individuals in a group perform certain
actions (Byrne, 2016). These frameworks helps in to analyse how a society functions. Below are
the frameworks in sociology.
Emile Durkheim social theory: This theory has been given by a famous sociologist
name Emile Durkheim. He was famous for his views on society. His theory was made on the
concept of social facts that defines norms, values and society structure. According to his theory
collective rules, values and consciousness are analytical to a functional society. He suggested
that cultural norms, shared experiences and individual perspectives binds a society and allows
them to work together for a common good. The theory is based on functioning, anomie and
division of lobar.
Functionalism: The main focus of functionalism is to maintain social equilibrium. It is
important for society to adjust in tough situations and to develop a state of equilibrium.
According to Durkheim, the society must be identified and define in terms of functions. As
society consist of several interrelated parts and everyone is dependent on each other. In context
of alone young mother, functionalism helps her to survive in a society (Lam, 2014). She needs to
understand how a society works and should live according to the society and maintain relations
with other individuals of the society.
Division of lobar- This concept of Durkheim focus on change of state of society from
being simple society into a complex one. He contended that earlier traditional societies were
made up of similar thinking of people in terms of values, beliefs and background. Whereas,
Morden society consist of complex Division of lobar, values and beliefs. However, a alone
young mother should develop her beliefs and values according to the modern society. Following
traditional beliefs will make her difficult to survive as she will not be able to feed her child
properly. Moreover her child will also suffer bad consequences if his mother is not able to link
with society.

Anomie- The anomie means lack of social standard. Durkheim indicated that how people
are not able to recognise that how to behave with one another. Thus it will lead to frustration,
worthlessness and despair. However, being alone a young mother should learn basic behaviour
and manners to interact with society.
Recognition of how psycho-social theory and research aids the social sciences understandings of
attitudes, behaviours and social organisation
Erik Homburger Erikson was a developmental psychoanalyst and psychologist who is
well known for the psycho social theory for the development of humans. The theory of Erikson
describing an individual moving through eight stages of life so as to negotiate and balance their
sociocultural and biological forces. Every stage covers the crisis which either could have
negative or positive outcome in human life revolving around the two forces. The eight life stages
defines such stages where a healthy person pass through from babyhood to late adulthood. The
psychosocial theory so called by Erikson named so because it involves individual's psychological
needs as well as social needs.
As per this theory, completion of every stage successfully leads to a healthy personality
and realisation of basic goods and virtues. If an individual fails to complete any stage
successfully, this may result in lowering the capacity to accomplish further stages and thereby an
unhealthy personality may develop. The first stage deals with trust vs. mistrust crisis, which
involves infant under 2 years age. During this, infant is unsure about the world and make a
significant relationship with mother. After the completion of this stage results in development of
hope. Second stage is autonomy vs. shame which involves 2 to 4 year toddler. At this time will
virtue is developed and a strong relationship is build with parents. Third stage covers initiative
vs. guilt which includes 5 to 8 year early childhood. Success of this stage leads purpose virtue
and a sense of belongingness with family develops (Lerner and et. al., 2015).
Fourth stage include industry vs. inferiority crisis where the child around 9 to 12 year
builds a connection with neighbour and school. During the fifth stage of identity vs. role
confusion, fidelity virtue is gained by adolescents, where strong bond develops with peers. The
next stage involve 20 to 39 years old adult, facing intimacy vs. isolation psychosocial crisis.
Success of this stage develops basic virtue of love, safety, sense of commitment and care and
thus an intimate relation develops with the partner. The seventh stage includes generative vs.
stagnation, where 40 to 59 years of individual are considered. Completion of this stage builds the

basic virtue of care and a influencing bond is formed with workmates. The last stage includes
individual above 60 years who faces ego integrity vs. despair, which helps in developing the
wisdom virtue enabling a sense of completeness and a significant relationship is formed with
mankind.
Conclusion
The above report has been summarised that psychology can be described as procedure of
mental status and behaviour of an individual. It includes several theories like Carl roger theory,
Emile Durkheim social model and Erik Homburger Erikson framework to understand thoughts
and condition of a young alone mother.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Byrne, R.M., 2016. Counterfactual thought. Annual review of psychology, 67. pp.135-157.
Jennings, J.L., and et. al., 2015. Do differences in school quality matter more than we thought?
New evidence on educational opportunity in the twenty-first century. Sociology of
Education. 88(1). pp.56-82.
Lam, G., 2014. A theoretical framework of the relation between socioeconomic status and
academic achievement of students. Education, 134(3). pp.326-331.
Lerner, J.S. and et. al., 2015. Emotion and decision making Annual review of psychology, 66.
pp.799-823.
Mittelstaedt, and et. al., 2014. Sustainability as megatrend: Two schools of macromarketing
thought.Journal of Macromarketing, 34(3). pp.253-264.
Sloman, S.A. and Lagnado, D., 2015. Causality in thought. Annual review of psychology, 66.
pp.223-247.