A Mnemonic to Help You Remember the 7
Approaches

Each finger on your hand and the palm can represent a different perspective:

The thumb = Psychodynamic


The index finger = Cognitive


Finish my sentence: “Pinky and the ______.” Behaviorists look at the tie between our behavior
and our biology. But our knowledge base for this is still relatively small – like our pinky.
The palm = Sociocultural


Try to lift your ring finger straight (without any other fingers going up also) – it can’t be done!
Now use your other fingers to push it up… much better. Humanists believe that we need others
to help us “reach our fullest potential,” and Rogers’ theory of unconditional positive regard does
the trick.
The pinky finger = Biological


How do you know what it means to “flip someone off”? You learned it. This relates to the idea
of rewards, punishments, and modeling. Flipping the bird is also an observable behavior, and
behaviorists focus on what can be seen and measured only.
The ring finger = Humanistic


Point to your head like you are thinking. The cognitive perspective looks at how we process,
store, and interpret information.
The middle finger = Behavioral


Stick out your thumb and make a gesture over your shoulder while turning your head in that
direction. You are “looking back,” just as a psychodynamic psychologist does when they are
focusing on the past and unconscious conflicts stemming from childhood.
Make a “gathering” movement with both hands, bringing them to your chest. We are gathering
all people together, all cultures. To understand others we must understand the culture they are
from. Differences are good!
The “evolved sixth finger” = Evolutionary

Hold up a finger from your other hand and pretend that you have 6 fingers instead of 5.
Evolutionary psychologists focus on how traits/behaviors evolve over time (usually aided our
ancestors’ survival or increased their genetic line)
Applying the 7 Approaches to RealLife Situations: Andrea Yates

On June 20, 2001, after her husband had
left for work, Andrea Yates, a Houston
mother, drowned her five children in the
family bathtub. She told police she
drowned them to keep them from burning
in hell. A jury rejected her insanity
defense, and she was sentenced to serve
life at a psychiatric prison. In a second
trial (the first was appealed), the jury
acquitted her, and she was sent to a
hospital, not prison.
What do you believe to be the
causes of Andrea Yates’ murder of
her children?
Biological


Research indicates that brain chemistry plays a
role in psychological disorder. Yates was
diagnosed as suffering from postpartum
depression with psychosis, and she had been
taken off her antipsychotic medication about a
month before the children’s deaths. Andrea’s
husband, Russell, claimed he had been pleading
with doctors to again prescribe Haldol, used in
treating people who hear voices or have
delusional thoughts.
Mood disorders run in families and Andrea’s was
no exception. A sister and 2 brothers were also
on antidepressants.
Cognitive




Do we find the cause in her private mental
functioning?
Andrea experienced low self-esteem.
At the time she killed her children, she
believed she was possessed and that the
sign of Satan (666) was marked on her
scalp.
She told the police that her children
“weren’t developing correctly” and that
drowning them was the only way to save
them.
Psychodynamic

Andrea was ruled by her irrational (and
unconscious) desire to be free from the
burden of so many children and the life of
a submissive housewife. These desires
resulted in her drastic actions.
Behavioral

Doctors had strongly recommended no more
children when they saw how seriously ill
(mentally) Andrea was becoming with each
child. Yet, her husband ignored their warnings
and impregnated her a fifth time. Is it possible
that Andrea saw her previously loving care only
resulting in the punishment of more children and
more responsibility, and therefore, she changed
her actions towards the children to achieve a
different result?
Evolutionary

Her children were harmful to her wellbeing, which wasn’t helping her survive
and thrive. We are engineered to do the
things that will help us succeed.
Sociocultural




The individualism of American society plays a
critical role in its accelerating rate of depression.
Her extended family was not around to help
when she needed them so desperately.
Her husband was not socially supportive. He
claimed he had never changed a diaper. How
could he leave her alone with the five children
when she could barely care for herself?
Clearly, her religious background played a role in
her decision.
Humanistic

Her basic needs weren’t being met
because of her children, so she made a
bad decision as we all do from time to
time.
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How Psychology
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Psychology
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Seven Unifying
Themes
Personal
Application
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