Lecture 1 - The Evolution Of Science Flashcards
(53 cards)
Why is psychology important?
Psychology can help us understand other people and ourselves Psychology can help us improve our lives
What are the study of mental activity and behaviour based on?
Brain processes
What does mental activity let us perceive ?
The world; we use our senses - sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch to take in information from outside ourselves
What does behaviour refer to?
all of ours actions that result from sensing and interpreting information
What is critical thinking?
Systemically evaluating information to reach reasonable conclusions best supported by evidence
What are the 3 steps in becoming a skilled critical thinker?
What am I being asked to believe or accept? What evidence is provided to support the claim ? What are the most reasonable conclusions?
What does media report seek to grab?
Attention. Their claims may be based on psychological research, but they may be hype instead
What does thinking critically about claims in psychology help?
Daily life
What does listening to Mozart make people?
Smarter
Why is important to learn about psychology’s major issues, theories and controversies ?
Help succeed in academic work
What are important abilities learned from psychology?
Analysing information by breaking it into pieces Evaluating ideas by drawing conclusions about them Communicating about psychological concepts
What do teachers and education professionals need to understand?
How people’s thinking, social abilities, and behaviours develop over time
What do people in business, marketing, advertising and sales need to know?
How attitudes are formed or changed and how well people’s attitudes predict their behaviour
What are the philosophical questions?
Aristotle and Plato Nature/nurture debate: both nature and nurture influence our psychological development Mind/body problem: are the mind and body separate and distinct. Descartes and dualism: the mind and the body are separate yet intertwined
What are the school of thoughts?
Structuralism Functionalism Psychoanalytic theory Gestalt psychology Behaviourism Humanistic psychology Cognitive psychology
Structuralism
Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener Goal: identify basic parts, or structures, of the conscious mind
Functionalism
William James and Charles Darwin Goal: describe how the conscious mind aid adaptation to an environment
Psychoanalytic theory
Sigmund Freud Understand how unconscious thoughts cause psychological disorders
Gestalt Psychology
Max Wertheimer and Wolfgang Kohler Goal: study subjective perceptions as a unified whole
Behaviourism
John B Watson and B.F. Skinner Goal: describe behaviour in response to environmental stimuli
Humanistic Approach
Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers Goal: investigate how people become happier and more fulfilled; focus on the basic goodness of people
Cognitive Psychology
George Miller and Ulric Neisser Goal: explore internal mental processes that influence behaviour
When did experimental psychology begin?
1879 when Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory
What is the purpose of laboratory
Identify basic parts, or structures, of conscious mind Reaction time experiments Introspection methods
