Midterm Material (Chapter 1 - 6) Flashcards
(244 cards)
Introspection
Studying one’s own mind and behaviour.
Arguments against introspection as a method to study behaviour empirically is that it does not allow for any independent objective evaluation of a claim.
Willhelm Wundt
- Advocated to make psychology an independent discipline (a study)
- Intended to push subjectivity and bring objectivity as a tool to study psychology
- Psychology was born; the study of mind through empirical methods.
- Established the first psychology lab, in Europe (Germany?)
G. Stanley Hall
Brief student of Willhem Wundt and established the first psychology lab in the US.
Structuralism
One of the first schools of Psychology. Led by Edwards Titchener, this school of thought was based on the notion that the task of psychology is to analyze consciousness into its basic elements and investigate how these elements are related. They relied a lot on the use of introspection.
Edward Titchener
Most influential figure in the Structuralist school of thought of Psychology.
Functionalism
One of the first schools of Psychology. Led by William James, this school of thought was based on the notion that the task of psychology is about investigating the function or purpose of consciousness, rather than its structure.
This led to an investigation of mental testing, developmental patterns, and sex differences.
This school’s view may have attracted the first women into psychology.
William James
Most influential figure in the Functionalist school of thought of psychology.
Behaviourism
Came after Structuralism and Functionalism, the first schools. Descendant of Functionalism.
Founded by John Watson, it was a reorientation of psychology as an objective science of ONLY observable behaviour.
Behaviourists had an inclination for nurture over nature.
John Watson
Founder of the school of thought, Behaviourism.
Watson argued strongly for nurture.
Observable behaviour
Observable responses or activities by an organism.
Stimulus/stimuli
any detectable input from the environment.
Nature vs. Nurture
One of the oldest questions in psychology: Are we who we are because of nature or nurture? How much can our environment mold us?
Behaviourists took the side of Nurture.
Sigmund Freud
Founder of the psychoanalytic school of thought.
His work with people with psychological problems led him to believe that people are influenced by unconscious forces; that is, thoughts, memories, and desires that are outside conscious awareness.
Unconscious experience
Aspects of experience below the surface of conscious awareness that influence behaviour.
B.F. Skinner
- Skinner championed a return to the strict focus on OBSERVABLE behaviour only; he didn’t deny that mental events exist, just that they cannot be studied scientifically and are therefore outside the realm of the science of psychology.
- Fundamental principle is that organisms tend to repeat responses that lead to positive outcomes and vice versa.
- Asserted that all behaviour is governed by external stimuli, that people are controlled by their environments, not themselves, and that free will is an illusion.
Conditioning
Revolves around the notion that certain stimuli that originally would not cause a specific response from a subject can be conditioned to do so.
Two types of conditioning: Classical (Ivan Pavlov) and Operant (B.F. Skinner).
Humanistic Psychology
- Psychoanalytic and behaviourist approaches were de-humanizing.
- Emphasis on the unique qualities of humans: freedom and personal growth.
Cognition
Mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge.
Multicultural Psycholgy
Psychologists began to recognize that they neglect of cultural variables has diminished the value of their work, and are devoting increased attention to culture as a determinant to behaviour.
Ethnocentrism
Viewing one’s own group as superior and as the standard for judging.
Evolutionary Psychology
Evolution occurs for behavioural, as well as physical, characteristics.
Studies natural selection of various behaviours and emotions.
Positive Psychology
Uses theory and research to better understand the positive aspects of human existence.
Theory
A system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations.
Operational definitions
Describes the actions or operations that will be used to measure or control a variable in a study.