Chapter 1 - Introduction Flashcards
Why study the history of psychology?
- it is the basis for studies conducted today
- diversity within the field
- evolution of the field
- understanding the origins to appreciate modern psychology
What is historiography?
the principle, methods, and philosophical issues of historical research
What is a zeitgeist?
Intellectual & cultural climate or spirit of the times
What are the 2 main components of science?
1) empirical observations
2) theory
What is a correlational law?
how classes of events vary together
What is a causal law?
how events are causally related
What is the assumption of determinism?
What is being studied can be understood in terms of CAUSAL LAWS
What were Karl Popper’s 3 steps of his scientific method?
1) empirical observation > problem
2) propose solution > conjecture
3) find fault with solution > refutation
According to Popper, what must theories have?
They must run the risk of being incorrect (this way we constantly look for more adequate theories)
According to Kuhn, what is the goal when evaluating scientific theories?
The goal is to determine whether or not they correspond to an external, mind-independent world (the correspondence theory of truth)
What is a paradigm?
beliefs, values, techniques, etc. shared by the members of a given scientific community
Name some differences between Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn
POPPER:
- scientific problem solving is a creative activity
- logic and creativity
- correspondence theory of truth?
KUHN:
- puzzle solving
- convention & subjective factors
- scientists “create” the reality they explore
What is determinism?
all behaviour has causal explanations (biological determinism, environmental determinism, sociocultural determinism, etc)
What is intdeterminism?
uncertainty principle - we can never learn at least some causes of behaviour (because in attempting to observe them, we change them)
- human behaviour may be determined, but the causes cannot be accurately measured
What is non-determinism?
- some researchers reject science as a way of studying humans
- human behaviour is FREELY CHOSEN, and SELF-GENERATED (humans have free will)
What are some theories about how the mind and body are related?
- materialism
- idealism
- monism
- dualism
What is materialism?
Only matter is reality, thus, everything must be explained in terms of matter
What is idealism?
Attempt to explain everything in terms of consciousness
What is monism?
Believe either in materialism or in idealism
What is dualism?
believe that there are both physical events (material events) and mental events (idealism)
What are the kinds of dualism?
1) interactionism
2) emergentism
3) epiphenomenalism
4) psychophysical parallelism
5) double aspectism
6) occasionalism
What is interactionism?
The mind and body interact
What is emergentism?
Mental states emerge from brain states
What is epiphenomenalism?
Mental processes are by-products of brain processes
