1.1 Flashcards
Define psychology
The scientific study of mental processes and behavior.
Wihelm Wundt
Known as the father of psychology. Wundt created the first laboratory that was dedicated exclusively to psychology research. Wundt studied the senses, reaction time, attention spans, and emotions. Eventually one of his students, Edward Tichener would create structuralism.
William James
Taught the first psychology course at Harvard University, wrote the first psychology textbook, and created the theoretical approach known as functionalism. Also helped more women get into psychology, for example Mary Whiton Calkins.
G Stanely Hall
Was one of Wundt’s students who became the first American to earn a PH.D. in psychology. Heal so opened the first psychology lab in the United States of America and became the first president of the American Psychological Association (APA).
Mary Whiton Calkins
Was admitted into William James graduate seminar, despite the objections of many. Harvard denied Calkins a degree and offered her one from Radcliffe College instead. Calkins denied the degree, due to the unequal treatment of women. She went on to make significant contributions in memory research and became the first woman president of the APA.
Margaret Floy Washburn
She is the first woman to earn a psychology degree and became the second female president of the APA. She also made a variety of contributions to animal research.
Charles Darwin
Proposed the idea of natural selection. He argued that our behaviors and bodies were shaped through natural selection. Supported the theoretical approach known as evolutionary psychology
Dorothea Dix
Helped reshape the medical field by highlighting the unfair and inhumane treatment of mentally ill people. She sought to reform insane asylums.
Sigmund Freud
Created the psychoanalytic theory, which was later changed to the psychodynamic approach. He focused on studying the unconscious and believed that people’s personalities are shaped by unconscious motives.
Ivan Pavlov
Pavlov was most known for his experiment with dogs and their digestion. He found that dogs would salivate at something besides food, if the stimulus was continuously presented before the food. Originally known as reflex conditioning, but would later be known as classical conditioning
Jean Piaget
Was the first psychologist to conduct a systematic study of cognitive development. He would eventually create a stage theory of child cognitive development.
Carl Rogers
Is one of the founders of humanistic psychology. Made significant contributions to the research and understanding of people’s personalities.
B.F. Skinner
Expanded the theoretical approach of Behaviorism. He was known for operant conditioning which focuses on behaviors and consequences both positive and negative.
John B Watson
Known as the official founder of Behaviorism when he explained behaviorism in 1913 in a Psychological Review article, “Psychology as the behaviorist Views It.” He believed that psychology should be scientific and observable.
Structuralism
Observes the mind’s different structures of consciousness through individual parts. (Uses introspection)
Functionalism
Seeks to understand mental & behavioral processes, operates as evolved functions. (Not looking at them as individual structures)
Gestalt
Studies the whole consciousness that included the study of perception, sensation, learning,& problem-solving. (Focus is on organizational process, instead of content of behavior)
psychoanalytic/psychodynamic
Behaviors and mental processes are influenced by the ego managing the conflict between the id and superego. Focuses on processes that are unconscious. (Uses free association)
What is the difference between introspection and free association?
Introspection is the process of looking inward to observe yourself think. (Structuralism) While free association is when a word or image triggers another idea, word, or picture inside a person’s head and uncovers unconscious thoughts (Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic)5. Describe the different perspectives in the table below
Early Behaviorism
Behaviors are learned through experiences and are observable. Broken into two parts, reflex conditioning, later known as classical conditioning, and operant conditioning.
Humanistic
Believes humans are naturally good and seek to reach their potential through free will. The goal is to reach self-actualization
Socialculture
Studies the impact of a person’s culture, nationality, gender, religion, social norms, and other cultural aspects on their behavior/ mental processes
Evolutionary Approach
Studies how behaviors and mental processes of today exist due to natural selection
Biological Approach
Studies the different structures of the brain and nervous system. Seeks to understand the link between our biological and psychological processes.
