There is no use denying the fact that the development of such science as psychology can be taken as one o the main factors of the existence of our society. Great tempos lead to an increase in the level of stress which, in turn, leads to the appearance of a great number of problems connected with the mental health of a person. Under these conditions, psychology becomes especially important as it helps people to overcome these problems and continue their living (“Four Approaches to Psychological Research” para. 2).
Thus, to be more efficient, psychologists created a great number of different approaches which main aim is to determine the problem of a person better and solve it. With this in mind, it is possible to analyze several different approaches.
The first one is known as neuroscience. Its main sense lies in the idea that the nervous system is central for understanding all processes peculiar to human beings (King 12). To understand how this system functions, neuroscience analyzes its structure and development. Also, the influence of genetics is being studied. Moreover, specialists, who work in this sphere, try to investigate the influence of some fluctuations in the work of this system on behavior and conscience of a person. That is why, if some problem with the psyche of a person appears, they try to investigate a persons nervous system and determine whether it functions well or not.
The cognitive approach is another important issue that is used for the analysis of the human psyche and behavior. It states the fact that a human brain houses a mind that determines how we remember, accept some decisions, solve problems, or just act (King 13). One of the main issues of this approach is information processing. It is how a person interprets all information that he/she obtains and makes a certain decision basing on the conclusions. Specialists, who adhere to the cognitive approach, try to solve problems connected with a short term perspective and help a person at this very period (“Cognitive Approach” para. 5).
To illustrate the differences between these two approaches, it is possible to show how they analyze a certain problem. The following situation can be taken as an example. A person has some problems with socialization and feels a lack of communication. Moreover, having low self-esteem, a person drinks alcohol. Neuroscience psychologists will try to analyze peculiarities of the functioning of a persons nervous system.
Moreover, his/her genetics will also be analyzed because a persons parents could also have some problems with alcohol (“Modern Approaches” para. 3). However, a specialist, who adheres to a cognitive approach, will take some other steps. He/she will try to analyze how a patient sees the world and how he/she analyzes it. Additionally, a specialist will also try to understand why a person thinks in this way and what factors influence it.
With this in mind, having analyzed the given issue, it is possible to make a certain conclusion. It should be said that neuroscience and cognitive approach can be taken as rather efficient remedies that help to struggle with mental problems that a person has. However, these two issues use different approaches to the analysis of a persons problems and their roots. They also analyze different aspects of human activity (“Cognitive Neuroscience Psychology” para. 5). Neuroscience is more interested in the functioning of the nervous system while the cognitive approach analyzes the human mind and how he/she processes information. Nevertheless, these two approaches are rather efficient and can be used under modern conditions (McLeod para. 6).
Works Cited
Cognitive Approach. n.d. Web.
Cognitive Neuroscience Psychology. n.d. Web.
Four Approaches to Psychological Research. n.d. Web.
King, Laura. The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2013. Print.
McLeod, Saul. Psychology Perspectives. 2007. Web.
Modern Approaches. n.d. Web.