Understanding Human Behavior: The Use of the Multiple Methods
Science or more specifically, scientific method in psychology gives a definite framework to the
study of forces affecting the behavior of superior beings, through observation, formulation and
testing of hypotheses. However, it is so essential to bear in mind that science is just one of the
views to analyze human activity. There are various other ways of doing things, which are also
informative, including philosophic approach, cultural approach and even spiritual approach that
can be useful in analyzing why people behave in certain ways.
What Is Science as a Method of Explaining Behavior?
Psychology as an academic discipline uses the scientific approach hence its use of scientific
method to analyze behavior and mental processes. It entails creating a theory, testing the theory
and finding the results that encompass human actions (American Psychological Association
[APA], 2020). For example, B. F. Skinner’s work on operant conditioning depicted how reward
and punishment positively or negatively reinforce or punish behavior and is a systematic and
objective approach to studying learning processes (Skinner, 1953). Scientific psychology is very
good in producing theories and practices that can easily be generalized given the existing data,
however, it lacks depth in identifying the individual differences or cultural factors.
Philosophical Approaches
Philosophy does differ from other sciences in reference to human activity by providing ethical,
existential and metaphysical concepts. Traditional thinkers like Aristotle and Plato contributed to
current discourses about human behaviour by developing ideas like virtue, free will its self
(Kraut, 2018). Jean-Paul Sartre is an example of an existentialist writer who insisted that people
are free to choose and create their own destiny pointing to the volitional and decisional nature of
behavior with references to subjectivity (Sartre, 2007). Fundamentally, philosophical analysis is
usually inclined to be more subjective and tends to focus on the concepts of meaning and ethics
as opposed to the approaches used in formulating scientific rigour.
Cultural Explanations
Where cultural anthropology and sociology are useful in analyzing how culture influences
people’s actions, and how it affects them. Culture encompasses the totality of socially acquired
phenomena that characterise human behaviour, particularly in as much as these are acted out in
the physical world (Geertz, 1973). For example, while the collectivist cultures that are
characterized by the orientation to the collective and community’s objectives may lead to the
development of different behaviour patterns than individualist cultures that promote self-
achievement (Hofstede, 2001). This is to argue that cultural approach in analyzing behaviour
offers an understanding of the behaviour in the paradigm of the context and the diversity of
people’s diversity, which the scientific psychology may not capture fully.
Spiritual and Religious Perspectives
There are other systems of belief besides the psychological theories to explain people’s conduct
in the society. Most religions use different theories in explaining behavior including karma,
divine intention among other aspects of spirituality (King, 2008). These perspectives may not be
in contrast with empirical methods but indeed provide rich interpretation for people who are into
these practices. Religious and spiritual practices like prayer and meditation also affects
psychological health and behavior therefore it is not wrong to deduce that spirituality has a role
to play in human behaviors (Koenig, 2012).
There is another way of looking at behavior distinct from its scientific psychology which
presents empirical research as a useful approach to the study of behavior. Both philosophical,
cultural, and spiritual viewpoints all play part in a detailed analysis of people’s actions. This also
means that the integration of these diverse approaches can provide a better account of the factors
which shape psychological processes.
References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Manual & guidelines for writers of research
papers, thesis, and dissertation (7th ed). APA.
Geertz, C. (1973). The interpretation of cultures. Basic Books.
Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture's consequences: International and cross cultural: comparing values,
behaviour, institutions and organisations (2nd edition). Sage Publications.
King, M. L. (2008). The strength to love. Harper & Row.
Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: Implications of the research and in
clinical practice. Int J Mol Sci, 2011; 12: 3153; Int J Pharm, 2011, 9:932; WO 2012067329 A1,
2012, 278730. [Link] org/10. 5402/2012/278730
Kraut, R. (2018). It is imperative that one reads or listens to Aristotle’s notion of human good as
it outlines the best state for people to attain in their society. Oxford University Press.
Sartre, J. -P. (2007). Antonius C. Macomber in his translation of the said Existentialism is a
humanism said that it was rather a foolish idea to seek for the meaning of life in the metaphysical
world. Yale University Press. (Original work published 1946)
Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. Simon and Schuster.
