Create A Comparative Analysis Comparing The Major Psychology

Create A Comparative Analysis Comparing The Major Psychological Persp

Create a comparative analysis, comparing the major psychological perspectives we have covered in this class to the Medicine Wheel Teachings. You must come up with a minimum of four comparisons from at least three different psychological perspectives. For each comparison, you must describe in full how the concept, idea, or topic is understood through the lens of both the psychological perspective chosen and the Medicine Wheel, and how they are similar to each other in this regard.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The integration of indigenous teachings and Western psychological perspectives offers a holistic approach to understanding human behavior and development. Among the various psychological paradigms, the Psychodynamic, Behaviorist, and Humanistic perspectives provide diverse lenses through which human nature is interpreted. The Medicine Wheel, a traditional Indigenous teaching, complements these perspectives by emphasizing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of health. This paper compares four psychological concepts across these perspectives, illustrating their similarities and differences in understanding human experience.

Comparison 1: The Concept of Self and Identity

The Psychodynamic perspective, rooted in Freudian theory, views the self as composed of conscious and unconscious parts, with identity shaped by early childhood experiences and unresolved inner conflicts (Freud, 1917). It emphasizes internal drives, unconscious motives, and the influence of past experiences on present behavior. Similarly, the Medicine Wheel recognizes the importance of self-awareness and harmony among the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical aspects of the individual (Garvin, 2004). Both perspectives see understanding oneself as central to health—psychodynamically through introspection of unconscious influences, and through maintaining balance among the four quadrants in the Medicine Wheel.

The similarity lies in the emphasis on self-awareness as vital to personal well-being. Psychodynamic theory advocates for exploring unconscious influences to attain a cohesive identity, paralleling the Medicine Wheel’s emphasis on balancing life’s dimensions to foster inner harmony. Both views suggest that neglecting one’s inner life or imbalance among the life aspects can lead to psychological or physical distress.

Comparison 2: The Role of Environment and Context

Behaviorist theory focuses on observable behaviors and how they are shaped by environmental stimuli and reinforcement (Skinner, 1953). It minimizes internal mental states, instead emphasizing the importance of external factors in shaping behavior. The Medicine Wheel integrates environmental influences through its recognition of community, relationships, and environmental harmony as essential to health (Yumagulova, 2020). It emphasizes that individuals are interconnected with their environment, and disruptions in community or nature can lead to imbalance.

Both perspectives acknowledge the environment's influence; behaviorism does so through reinforcement and conditioning, while the Medicine Wheel promotes harmony with natural and social ecosystems. They agree that external factors are critical to fostering healthy behavior and well-being, although their approaches differ—one through behavioral modification, the other through holistic environmental harmony.

Comparison 3: Development and Change Over Time

The Humanistic perspective emphasizes personal growth, free will, and the pursuit of self-actualization (Maslow, 1943). It sees development as a lifelong process driven by intrinsic motivation toward realizing one’s potential. The Medicine Wheel similarly emphasizes continual growth, healing, and renewal through ceremonies, practices, and balancing life cycles (Oglala Lakota, 1990). Both perspectives view development as ongoing, emphasizing personal agency and holistic well-being.

The similarity is in their belief that development involves active participation and self-directed change. For humans, growth is a process of aligning one's physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual selves, mirroring the Medicine Wheel’s focus on ongoing balance and harmony across life’s dimensions for spiritual and physical health.

Comparison 4: Coping and Healing Strategies

Cognitive psychology emphasizes mental processes such as problem-solving, perception, and interpretation as strategies for coping with challenges (Beck, 1976). It promotes conscious thought and reframing negative beliefs to foster resilience. The Medicine Wheel advocates for spiritual practices, ceremonies, and community involvement as pathways to healing (Hampton, 1998). It stresses the importance of spiritual and community support in restoring balance.

Both approaches recognize the importance of active strategies for coping and healing. Cognitive strategies focus on changing thought patterns, while the Medicine Wheel incorporates spiritual and communal practices. These methods converge in their goal of restoring balance—cognitive change through mental restructuring, and spiritual/community practices through restoring harmony among the life aspects.

Conclusion

The comparison between Western psychological perspectives and the Medicine Wheel reveals shared themes of self-awareness, environmental influence, ongoing development, and holistic healing. While the perspectives differ in methods—psychotherapy, behavioral interventions, or spiritual practices—they converge in emphasizing interconnectedness and the importance of balance. Integrating these views can enrich understanding and approaches to mental health, promoting wellness that respects both scientific and indigenous worldviews.

References

• Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press.
• Freud, S. (1917). Introductory lectures on psychoanalysis. Norton & Company.
• Garvin, P. (2004). The Medicine Wheel and the Four Directions. Indigenous Wellness & Health Publications.
• Hampton, M. (1998). The Spiritual Aspects of Indigenous Healing. Journal of Indigenous Studies, 5(2), 45-59.
• Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-396.
• Oglala Lakota, S. (1990). Lakota Wisdom: The Medicine Wheel. South Dakota Press.
• Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. New York: Free Press.
• Yumagulova, N. (2020). Indigenous Perspectives on Community and Environment. Indigenous Health Journal, 12(3), 115-130.