Approaches Flashcards
Psychologists and Key Words (12 cards)
What is psychology?
The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those functions affecting human behaviour in a given context.
Who is the Father of Psychology?
Wilhelm Wundt -
He was the first person to call himself a psychologist and believed that everything could be studied scientifically. He approach paved the way for the acceptance of psychology as a distinct science in its own write. And psychology was to be the preferred method of studying human behaviour.
What experiment did he conduct?
He conduced experiments on reaction times and his aim was to study the human mind. He broke down the basic elements such as Sensation and Perception into their basic elements.
The Three words he broke the study down into?
Structuralism -> A theory of consciousness that seeks to analyse the elements of experience and how it forms more complex experiences.
Introspection -> A person gaining knowledge about his/her mental states based of their conscious thoughts or feelings.
What is a criticism of this study?
It’s unreliable because the approach relies on non-observable responses, which means those who cannot see it. Thoughts and Feelings are good examples.
Descartes thought what?
The mind and the body are independent. The mind could be an object of study in its own right.
‘Cogito Ergo Sum.’ -> ‘I think therefore, I am.’
Locke proposed the idea of what?
Empiricism. The idea that Experiences can be obtained through the senses and that humans do not inherit behaviour.
Darwins idea of evolution suggest that…
Behaviour changes over generations - the more adaptive genes survive and reproduce, the weaker ones are weeded out.
THE IDEA OF SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.
What does objective mean?
Without the influence of personal feelings or opinions in considering representing facts (without bias).
What does Systematic mean?
Done or acting according to a fixed plan or system (Methodical).
What does Replicable mean?
Able to be copied or reproduced exact and easily and find that the results are the same each time.
What do Behaviourists believe?
They rejected the vagueness of introspection and focused on the observable events
