Lecture 1 - History of Psychology

Question 1

Definition of Psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of behaviour and the mind

Question 2

Psychologist

Answer 2

Scientists who use the scientific method to acquire knowledge on behaviour and the mind

Question 3

Mind

Answer 3

The internal states and processes of the brain

Question 4

Psychology goals (three B’s)

Answer 4

Describe behaviour, explain causes for behaviour, predict behaviour under certain conditions

Question 5

Early Psychology

Answer 5

Pre 19th century; based in philosophy

Question 6

Hippocrates

Answer 6

Ancient Greek physician - first person to explain illness based on science rather than supernatural

Question 7

Theory of Humorism (Greeks/Romans)

Answer 7

• The body is made up of 4 principal humours
• Complex system of interactions
• good health = humours in balance
• Primary way of understanding biology and psychology

Question 8

Humours

Answer 8

Black bile, blood, yellow bile, phlegm

Question 9

Definition of humour

Answer 9

Explained the balance of life

Question 10

Rene Descartes

Answer 10

(1596 - 1650) Philosopher and mathematician

• Minds are immaterial
• Bodies are material
• Substance dualism
• Mind-body problem

Question 11

Substance dualism

Answer 11

Life possess both physical and metaphysical properties

Question 12

Interactionism

Answer 12

The interaction between the physical and metaphysical

Question 13

Mind-body problem

Answer 13

• how do minds and bodies interact

- how does the physical affect the mental vice versa

Question 14

Reductive physicalism

Answer 14

Idea that life is comprised solely of physical matter

Question 15

16th Century

Answer 15

Psychology’s beginnings as a science

Question 16

Steven Blankaart

Answer 16

(1650-1704) Dutch physician who distinguished psychology as the study of the mind

Question 17

Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 17

(1832-1920) German psychologist who established psychology as a distinct discipline. Study of the components of consciousness –> relies on introspection
- Structuralist

Question 18

Structuralism

Answer 18

Focus on the components of consciousness, rather than function

Question 19

William James

Answer 19

(1842-1910) American psychologist who coined functionalism.

- Influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution

Question 20

Functionalism

Answer 20

Analysis of the function of consciousness; how behaviour impacts the life of an organism
- Operation of the whole mind, rather than individual parts

Question 21

Psychodynamic theory

Answer 21

Freud’s theory to explain the reason behind human behaviour

- focus on the subconscious mind

Question 22

Sigmund Freud

Answer 22

(1856-1939) Austian neurologist known for his outlandish psychoanalytic theory. His ideas helped revolutionize the field of modern psychology

Question 23

Psychoanalytical theory

Answer 23

Focuses on the role of a person’s unconscious and childhood experiences as a cause to current behaviour and development of personality

Question 24

Modern view on Freudian Theory

Answer 24

Research has identified brain mechanisms that produce unconscious emotional reactions

Question 25

Occam's Razor (1285-1347/49)

Answer 25

A principal of parsimony; practice of economy when it comes to choosing an explanation --> contains the fewest amounts of assumptions

Question 26

John B. Watson

Answer 26

(1878-1958) American psychologist that is responsible for the shift of psychology from the study of the mind to the scientific study of behaviour (behaviourism) - Obejective analysis of the mind is impossible - Behaviour is a product of the subconscious, which is quantifiable

Question 27

Behaviourism

Answer 27

The study of observing and controlling behaviour

Question 28

B. F Skinner

Answer 28

(1904-1990) American psychologist that enhanced behaviourism; established a prominent role in psychology - Discovered operant conditioning

Question 29

Operant conditioning

Answer 29

A method of learning that involves positive and negative reinforcement for certain behaviours with the goal of the subject learning a certain behaviour in order to be rewarded and avoid punishment

Question 30

Humanistic perspective

Answer 30

A perspective that emphasizes the potential for good which is innate in all human beings - People are more than the sum of their parts - Subjective - Opposes fundamentalism and structuralism

Question 31

Carl Rogers

Answer 31

(1902-1987) American psychologist who developed client centered therapy in which the patient takes a directive role in their healing process

Question 32

Three elements needed for client centered therapy

Answer 32

Unconditional positive regard, genuineness, empathy

Question 33

Abraham Maslow

Answer 33

(1908-1970) American psychologist who proposed a hierarchy of human needs in motivating behaviour (Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs). Higher levels lead to self-actualization --> full potential

Question 34

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Answer 34

1. Physiological 2. Security 3. Social 4. Esteem 5. Self-actualization