Intro to Psychology: Chapter 1

Question 1

What is psychology?

Answer 1

study of the mind and behavior

Question 2

What is Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) known for?

Answer 2

“father of psychology”, established the first psychology lab at the University of Leipzig, Germany in 1879, did a scientific study of the conscious experience and developed the idea of introspection

Question 3

What is Edward Titchener (1867-1927) known for?

Answer 3

he developed the structuralist school of thought, and developed rules for proper use of introspection: participant (in an experiment) must be in a state of “strained” attention, observation must be able to be repeated several times, and stimulus must be manipulable

Question 4

What is William James (1842-1910) known for?

Answer 4

he developed the functionalist school of thought, believing that mental processes are fluid and have continuity; a “stream of consciousness”. He also sought to understand how the mind, perception, habits, and emotions function to help us to adapt and survive

Question 5

What is Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) known for?

Answer 5

he developed the concept of psychoanalysis, the study of how unconscious thoughts/instincts influence behavior. Freud unpacked unconscious conflicts through: free associations, slips of the tongue, and dream analysis

Question 6

What is Behaviorism?

Answer 6

belief that only observable behavior should be studied, and that environmental factors shape behavior

Question 7

Which four scientists studied behaviorism?

Answer 7

John Watson, Ivan Pavlov, E.L. Thorndike, and B.F. Skinner

Question 8

What were John Watson’s views on behaviorism?

Answer 8

behavior is only governed by the environment (nurture), and there is a relationship between stimulus and response

Question 9

What was Ivan Pavlov’s contribution to behaviorism?

Answer 9

he developed a school of behaviorism known as Pavlonian or classical conditioning. He’d take a stimulus and pair it, which would be considered a neutral stimulus, meaning it didn’t produce any type of automatic response. For example, associating the sound of a whistle with food

Question 10

What was E.L. Thorndike’s contribution to behaviorism?

Answer 10

he performed experiments in which he’d observe cats and dogs navigating through mazes. He discovered that providing a reward following a successful escape would lead to a strengthened learning between stimulus and response

Question 11

What were B.F. Skinner’s views on behaviorism?

Answer 11

consequences that follow behavior shape future behavior- reinforcement and punishment

Question 12

Which school of thought opposed psychoanalysis and behaviorism?

Answer 12

Humanism

Question 13

What are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers known for?

Answer 13

developed humanism as a school of thought, stressed “free will” and development of a healthy self-concept; drive toward personal growth, fulfilling one’s potential. Believed that humans are fundamentally different from animals. Maslow developed a hierarchy of needs

Question 14

What was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, with 5 being the lowest and 1 being the highest on the pyramid?

Answer 14

1) self-actualization
2) esteem & self-esteem
3) love & belonging
4) safety & security
5) physiological needs

Question 15

Who were the Gestalt psychologists?

Answer 15

Kaffka, Wertheimer, and Kohler

Question 16

What were the Gestalt psychologists known for?

Answer 16

their study of perception in the early to mid 20th century, believing that “patterns take precedence over elements”. They rebelled against the school of structuralism.

Question 17

Closure

Answer 17

a space is not completely enclosed, but if enough of a shape is indicated, people can find the whole by filling in the missing information

Question 18

The Law of Continuity

Answer 18

continuity occurs because a viewer’s eyes will naturally follow a line or a curve

Question 19

The Law of Pragnance or the Law of Simplicity

Answer 19

simplicity occurs when objects in the environment are seen in a way that makes them appear as simple as possible

Question 20

The Law of Proximity

Answer 20

proximity occurs when elements are placed close together

Question 21

The Law of Similarity

Answer 21

similarity occurs when objects look similar to one another

Question 22

What is Margaret Floy Washburn known for?

Answer 22

studying animal behavior and motor development, first woman to be granted a PhD in psychology in 1894, and the second woman to be president of APA

Question 23

What is Mary Whiton Clark known for?

Answer 23

studying memory & developing pair-associate test, earning a PhD from Harvard that was not properly awarded to her, first woman to be president of APA

Question 24

What is Christine Ladd Franklin known for?

Answer 24

theory of color vision, earned a PhD from Harvard in 1926

Question 25

What is Francis Cecil Sumner known for?

Answer 25

study of race psychology, color and vision, psychology of religion. First African American to earn a PhD in 1920 from Clark University

Question 26

What is Kenneth Clark known for?

Answer 26

studying race, famous “doll study”. Concluded segregation was psychologically damaging & played a role in Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. First African American president of APA

Question 27

What is Mamie Phipps Clark known for?

Answer 27

discovering that African American children become aware of their racial identity by age 3, and that many African American children were wrongly diagnosed of a learning disorder due to biased testing

Question 28

What is Inez Beverly Prosser known for?

Answer 28

first African American to earn her PhD, studied academic development in mixed and segregated schools

Question 29

Evolutionary Perspective (1960s-1970s)

Answer 29

Developed by David Buss; patterns of behavior or traits are inherited that enhance an organism’s survival.

Question 30

Positive Psychology Movement (1990s)

Answer 30

Developed by Martin Seligman; understanding of positive, adaptive, creative, and fulfilling aspects of human existence