Approaches - Emergence of Psychology as a Science

Question 1

Who set up the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany? When?

Answer 1

Wilhelm Wundt - 1879

Question 2

What method did Wundt use?

Answer 2

Introspection

Question 3

Define introspection

Question 4

Who is the father of psychodynamics ?

Answer 4

Sigmund Freud

Question 5

Who are the main behaviourists?

Answer 5

Watson, Pavlov, Skinner (learning theorists)

Question 6

Why didn’t behaviourists like introspection?

Answer 6

They didn’t feel it was scientific enough. They argued reporting on your own mental processes in an objective way was not possible.

Question 7

Who developed social learning theory?

Answer 7

Bandura

Question 8

What do humanists argue?

Answer 8

Argued humans are not like other physical objects (plants and rocks) . Studying humans scientifically will reduce us down to something we are not and miss some fundamental aspects of humanity.

Question 9

How do cognitive psychologists view the mind?

Answer 9

Like how a computer works, the processes of the mind can be simplified down to a set of models or processes.

Question 10

How did the biological psychology approach come about?

Answer 10

Due to the development and advancement of scientific technology which allows us to view the workings of the brain in a completely new way as well as development of genetic techniques which shows us how genes guide our behaviour.

Question 11

What is cognitive neuroscience

Answer 11

A blend of biological psychology and cognitive psychology

Question 12

What is science?

Answer 12

Finding out systematically and objectively about the physical and natural world using observation and experimentation

Question 13

Define systematic

Answer 13

Working according to a fixed/controlled, standardised plan or system

Question 14

Define objectivity

Answer 14

Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering facts

Question 15

Define empiricism

Answer 15

Based on tested experimentation, not theory or logical argument

Question 16

Define Scientific Methodology

Answer 16

Systematic observation, measurement, and experience and the formulation, testing and modification of hypotheses.

Question 17

What is replicability?

Answer 17

Finding the same results when the same methodology is repeated

Question 18

What is predictability?

Answer 18

General laws can be made about human behaviour in situations

Question 19

Define determinism

Answer 19

You don’t have a choice over your behaviour, it is set from your prior conditions

Question 20

Define inference

Answer 20

After observing repeated instances of a behaviour to a stimulus, making conclusions about the fundamental nature of the mind on the basis of these observations

Question 21

Explain what introspection is

Answer 21

A process of looking inwards/ self examination, it is systematic analysis of own conscious experience of standard stimulus, reporting present experience

Question 22

Explain the process of introspection

Answer 22

A standard stimulus was used which was often a metronome. An inward experience was analysed in terms of its component parts e.g sensations, emotional reaction, mental images etc. Thoughts would be broken down into separate elements. And the participant would be asked to report these.

Question 23

What is structuralism?

Answer 23

Breaking thoughts about an object down into separate elements was an attempt to uncover the structure of the mind.

Question 24

How did introspection follow the scientific method?

Answer 24

The research was systematic, the same stimulus, physical surroundings and instructions were given to each person. And the participants were highly trained.

Question 25

Strengths of Wundt’s research

Answer 25

+ His work paved the way for later scientifically controlled research into psychology

+ Wundt’s work was criticised by later behaviourist learning theorist who thought internal mental processes could not be studied scientifically by introspection, they focused only on observable inputs (stimuli) and outputs (behaviours)

+The study of mental processes was later continued cognitive psychologists who built models of how systems such as memory worked, however they used experimentation not introspection.

Question 26

Limitations of Wundt’s research?

Answer 26

+ Wundt’s work was criticised by later behaviourist learning theorist who thought internal mental processes could not be studied scientifically by introspection, they focused only on observable inputs (stimuli) and outputs (behaviours)