PSYC 110 Week 1 Assignment

Student Name

Chamberlain University

PSYC-110: Psychology

Prof. Name

Date

PSYC 110 Week 1 Assignment

In the first week of coursework, I examined five major perspectives in psychology that are widely used to understand human thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. These include the psychoanalytic/psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, and neuroscientific/biopsychological approaches (Chamberlain University, 2019). Each provides a unique framework for analyzing human motivation and decision-making processes.

An interesting application of these perspectives can be seen in the real-life decision made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2020. Through their official Instagram account, they announced their plan to step back from their roles as “senior” royals. Their decision reflected a desire for independence and balance between life in the United Kingdom and North America (Bruner & McCuskey, 2020).

Overview

According to their public statement, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle intended to create a “progressive new role” within the Royal Family while also pursuing financial independence. Their plan included supporting Queen Elizabeth II while simultaneously dividing their time between Britain and North America. The couple emphasized their need for greater privacy and autonomy in raising their family. However, public opinion varied. Some individuals viewed this as a reasonable step toward personal well-being, while others speculated that Meghan Markle was influencing her husband in ways that caused strain within the royal family (Daniels, 2020).

Behavioral Perspective

Two psychological perspectives—behavioral and cognitive—are particularly relevant when analyzing the Sussexes’ choice to step back from the monarchy.

From a behavioral perspective, behavior is shaped by environmental stimuli, rewards, and punishments. A behavioral psychologist might argue that the couple’s withdrawal reflects their learned responses to constant media scrutiny and negative reinforcement from the press. Instead of being motivated only by internal desires, their decision may represent an attempt to escape stressful stimuli and establish a healthier environment for their children.

Cognitive Perspective

In contrast, the cognitive perspective highlights the importance of thought processes, perceptions, and expectations in shaping behavior. Meghan Markle, who did not grow up in a royal household, may have formed different beliefs about privacy, family roles, and autonomy. A cognitive psychologist might interpret the couple’s actions as the outcome of evaluating long-term risks and benefits, including how media exposure could affect their children’s development. This perspective emphasizes that their reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making processes directly influenced their departure.

Comparison of Perspectives

To further understand how psychology can explain the Sussexes’ decision, the following table compares the behavioral and cognitive perspectives:

Perspective	Focus	Application to the Sussexes’ Decision
Behavioral	Environmental influences, conditioning, reinforcement	The couple’s decision may stem from avoiding negative reinforcement (e.g., harsh media criticism) and seeking a more supportive environment.
Cognitive	Thought processes, beliefs, expectations, reasoning	Meghan and Harry may have carefully evaluated how royal life conflicted with their long-term goals for privacy and family well-being.

Conclusion

In summary, the decision of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step down as senior royals can be analyzed through multiple psychological frameworks. While behavioral psychology emphasizes how external reinforcement and environmental pressures shaped their actions, the cognitive perspective highlights how their beliefs, expectations, and problem-solving strategies influenced their choices. Ultimately, this decision reflects the intersection of external pressures and internal reasoning. Whether viewed critically or sympathetically, their actions illustrate how psychological theories can be applied to real-life situations, helping us better understand the complexities of human behavior and motivation.

References

Bruner, R., & McCuskey, M. (2020, January 13). Prince Harry, Meghan Markle step down: Everything we know. Time. https://time.com/5761547/prince-harry-meghan-markle-step-back-senior-royals/

Chamberlain University. (2019). Lesson 1. https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/55959/pages/week-1-lesson-introduction-research-and-biological-foundations?module_item_id=7259100

PSYC 110 Week 1 Assignment

Daniels, N. (2020, January 10). What do you think about Prince Harry and Meghan ‘stepping back’? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/learning/what-do-you-think-about-prince-harry-and-meghan-stepping-back.html