P2/P3: Explain the contribution of complementary and contrasting psychological theories to the
understanding of two specific behaviours
P4: Explain the contribution of psychological perspectives to the management and treatment of two
specific behaviours
M2: Assess the contribution of complementary and contrasting psychological theories to the
understanding of the two specific behaviours
In this assignment, I will be choosing two specific behaviours which I will use to explain and assess
complementary and contrasting psychological perspectives. The two specific behaviours which I
have chosen are anxiety and depression. Firstly, anxiety is when someone feels a sense or worry or
fear about a situation. It is normal to feel anxious from time to time, but some people suffer from
anxiety disorder which means they feel anxious in irrational situations. For example, someone with
social anxiety may feel worried about making a phone call, which causes them no real harm and
should not be a reason to feel anxious. While a person is feeling anxious, they may experience an
increased heart rate, sweaty palms, dizziness, trouble focusing or insomnia. This can prevent an
individual from living a normal life. Secondly, depression is an on-going feeling of sadness and
hopelessness. This can be caused by a chemical imbalance of serotonin in the brain, genetics or a
negative life event that the individual is experiencing. For example, if a person has recently
experienced bereavement they may go through a period of depression. Symptoms of depression
include a loss of interest in activities, low energy, feeling tearful, low self-esteem, having no
motivation, irritability or suicidal thoughts. Anxiety and depression can be caused by life situations,
personality, the environment, genetics, family issues, emotional issues or another mental health
condition such as OCD or PTSD.
Anxiety;
(P2/P3/P4)
The humanistic perspective and social learning theory are complementary in understanding anxiety
because they both emphasise the importance of motivation. Maslow believed that individuals
required motivation in order to move up the hierarchy of human needs. The higher up we got the
more motivated we became to move even further. Individuals who were at the lower stages of the
hierarchy had less motivation to move up. They would also experience anxiety because they would
start to feel like they will never reach self-actualisation. These individuals would not be able to
overcome their anxiety because they lacked the belief that it was possible, so they become stuck in
it. Furthermore, Bandura argued that we need to be motivated in order to imitate a model.
Individuals become motivated if the model had qualities which they wanted. For example, if an
individual had post-traumatic stress anxiety after a car accident and witnessed someone who they
view as a model have a successful experience in a car, their anxiety will become better. However, if
they witness an individual who they do not aspire to be like drive a car safely their anxiety will be the
same, because they have not motivation to observe and imitate that person. Therefore, both these
approaches believe that in order to overcome anxiety we need motivation, and individuals who have
anxiety lack motivation.
However, they are also contrasting because the humanistic perspective focuses more on the self
while social learning theory focuses on others. According to Maslow we are all trying to achieve self-
actualisation which is where we become the best version of ourselves. Rogers expanded on this
theory by stating that we all have a ‘self-concept’ which refers to how we see ourselves. We also
internalise what others tell us. For example, if a child always gets called shy and awkward by others
Unit 29 1
understanding of two specific behaviours
P4: Explain the contribution of psychological perspectives to the management and treatment of two
specific behaviours
M2: Assess the contribution of complementary and contrasting psychological theories to the
understanding of the two specific behaviours
In this assignment, I will be choosing two specific behaviours which I will use to explain and assess
complementary and contrasting psychological perspectives. The two specific behaviours which I
have chosen are anxiety and depression. Firstly, anxiety is when someone feels a sense or worry or
fear about a situation. It is normal to feel anxious from time to time, but some people suffer from
anxiety disorder which means they feel anxious in irrational situations. For example, someone with
social anxiety may feel worried about making a phone call, which causes them no real harm and
should not be a reason to feel anxious. While a person is feeling anxious, they may experience an
increased heart rate, sweaty palms, dizziness, trouble focusing or insomnia. This can prevent an
individual from living a normal life. Secondly, depression is an on-going feeling of sadness and
hopelessness. This can be caused by a chemical imbalance of serotonin in the brain, genetics or a
negative life event that the individual is experiencing. For example, if a person has recently
experienced bereavement they may go through a period of depression. Symptoms of depression
include a loss of interest in activities, low energy, feeling tearful, low self-esteem, having no
motivation, irritability or suicidal thoughts. Anxiety and depression can be caused by life situations,
personality, the environment, genetics, family issues, emotional issues or another mental health
condition such as OCD or PTSD.
Anxiety;
(P2/P3/P4)
The humanistic perspective and social learning theory are complementary in understanding anxiety
because they both emphasise the importance of motivation. Maslow believed that individuals
required motivation in order to move up the hierarchy of human needs. The higher up we got the
more motivated we became to move even further. Individuals who were at the lower stages of the
hierarchy had less motivation to move up. They would also experience anxiety because they would
start to feel like they will never reach self-actualisation. These individuals would not be able to
overcome their anxiety because they lacked the belief that it was possible, so they become stuck in
it. Furthermore, Bandura argued that we need to be motivated in order to imitate a model.
Individuals become motivated if the model had qualities which they wanted. For example, if an
individual had post-traumatic stress anxiety after a car accident and witnessed someone who they
view as a model have a successful experience in a car, their anxiety will become better. However, if
they witness an individual who they do not aspire to be like drive a car safely their anxiety will be the
same, because they have not motivation to observe and imitate that person. Therefore, both these
approaches believe that in order to overcome anxiety we need motivation, and individuals who have
anxiety lack motivation.
However, they are also contrasting because the humanistic perspective focuses more on the self
while social learning theory focuses on others. According to Maslow we are all trying to achieve self-
actualisation which is where we become the best version of ourselves. Rogers expanded on this
theory by stating that we all have a ‘self-concept’ which refers to how we see ourselves. We also
internalise what others tell us. For example, if a child always gets called shy and awkward by others
Unit 29 1
