The sociocultural and humanistic perspectives in psychology differ significantly in their focus and approach to understanding human behavior and mental processes. The sociocultural perspective emphasizes the influence of social and cultural factors on individuals. It explores how societal norms, cultural values, social roles, and interpersonal dynamics shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This perspective is particularly interested in how different cultural contexts impact psychological processes and the variation in behaviors across cultures. On the other hand, the humanistic perspective centers on individual experience, free will, and the innate drive towards personal growth and self-actualization. It focuses on the potential for positive growth, emphasizing concepts like self-actualization, self-concept, and the need for unconditional positive regard. While the humanistic perspective is more focused on the individual's internal experiences and their journey towards fulfillment, the sociocultural perspective looks outward, examining the impact of external social and cultural forces on the individual.

The biopsychosocial model approaches the treatment of mental health disorders by considering the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. This holistic approach implies that effective treatment should address all these dimensions. Biologically, treatment may involve medication to manage symptoms related to brain chemistry or other physical health issues. Psychologically, therapy is used to address maladaptive thought patterns, emotional responses, and behaviors. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, for example, is a common approach that targets the interaction between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Socially, the model emphasizes the importance of social support and environmental factors. This may involve family therapy, social skills training, or interventions aimed at improving a patient’s social environment, like community services or support groups. By integrating these aspects, the biopsychosocial model offers a more comprehensive and effective approach to mental health treatment, recognizing that simply addressing one aspect may not be sufficient for long-term recovery and well-being.

Evolutionary psychology has faced several criticisms. One major critique is its tendency toward determinism, where behaviors are often explained as hard-wired or genetically predetermined adaptations. Critics argue that this overlooks the role of learning and cultural influences in shaping behavior. Another criticism is the difficulty in testing evolutionary hypotheses. Since evolutionary explanations often deal with historical or ancestral conditions, they cannot be directly observed or experimentally manipulated, raising concerns about the falsifiability and scientific rigor of these theories. Additionally, some argue that evolutionary psychology may oversimplify complex human behaviors and social phenomena by attributing them solely to evolutionary processes. For example, explaining complex social behaviors like altruism or aggression purely in terms of evolutionary adaptation may ignore socio-cultural and environmental factors that also play crucial roles. Finally, there is a concern about the potential misuse of evolutionary explanations to justify harmful or unethical behaviors as "natural" or inevitable.

Gestalt psychology's approach to perception significantly differs from other psychological theories by emphasizing the holistic processing of sensory information. Unlike theories that break down perception into basic sensory components, Gestalt psychology proposes that our minds perceive entire patterns or configurations in a unified whole. This theory is encapsulated in the famous phrase, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." For example, when we look at a picture, we don't just see a collection of colored dots or lines; we immediately perceive a cohesive image. This perspective introduced several principles to explain perception, such as figure-ground, similarity, proximity, closure, and continuity. These principles suggest that our perception is not just a passive reception of stimuli but an active process of organizing and interpreting sensory information. This view contrasts sharply with behaviorist theories, which focus on observable behavior, and psychoanalytic theories, which emphasize unconscious processes.

The cognitive perspective in psychology explains human emotions as a result of mental processes, particularly how individuals perceive, interpret, and think about their experiences. According to cognitive theorists, emotions are not just automatic responses but are influenced by how we appraise or evaluate events and situations. For instance, Aaron Beck's cognitive theory of emotion suggests that our emotional responses are shaped by our thoughts and beliefs. If an individual interprets a situation as threatening or harmful, they are likely to experience negative emotions like fear or sadness. Conversely, perceiving a situation as beneficial or fulfilling leads to positive emotions. This perspective is crucial in understanding emotional disorders, as it highlights the role of negative thinking patterns in conditions like depression and anxiety. Cognitive therapy, thus, focuses on changing maladaptive thought patterns to alter emotional responses and behaviors.