history and scope

Question 1

What is the definition of psychology?

Answer 1

It is the scientific study of behaviour and the mind

Question 2

What were some early influences on the field of psychology?

Answer 2

• Religion
• Philosophy
• Physiology

Question 3

Who is considered the father of Psychology? What was his view of the mind?

Answer 3

William James
- Defined psychology as the science of mental life and was interested to understand mental structure and functions

Question 4

What is dualism?

Answer 4

A concept with roots in the ideas of Plato and Descartes.
- The mind (immaterial soul) and body are separate entities.
- Descartes believed the soul interacted with the physical body through the brain

Question 5

How did materialism challenge dualism?

Answer 5

In contrast to dualism, materialism, advanced by thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, posits that there is only matter and energy, and that seemingly mental phenomena are ultimately products of physical processes. This view paved the way for empiricism, which emphasizes observation and experience as the basis of knowledge.

Question 6

Explain the difference between empiricism and nativism.

Answer 6

Empiricism (John Locke): The mind is a “blank slate” at birth, and all knowledge comes from sensory experiences.

Nativism (Immanuel Kant): The mind is not a blank slate; rather, we are born with inherent faculties (knowledge, feeling, and desire) that shape how we learn and understand the world.

Question 7

What was the significance of the cognitive revolution in psychology?

Answer 7

The cognitive revolution marked a shift back to studying mental processes after a period of focusing primarily on observable behaviors. Thinkers like Ernest Hilgard adapted Kant’s ideas into modern psychological concepts like cognition (knowledge and beliefs), emotion, and motivation.

Question 8

What are some of the key areas of focus in modern psychology?

Answer 8

• Basic processes: Studying fundamental mental processes such as perception, memory, attention, and language.

-Development: Examining how the mind changes across the lifespan, from infancy to old age.

-Individual Differences: Investigating variations in personality, intelligence, and other traits.

-Pathology: Understanding and treating mental disorders.

Question 9

Psychology is an interdisciplinary field that interacts with various other areas of study, including:

Answer 9

Neuroscience
Biology
social science