Approaches in Psychology Flashcards
Who were the three main people in the beginning of psychology?
What is Cartesian Dualism and who came up with it?
What is empiricism and who came up with it?
What are evolutionary theories and who came up with them?
What was published in 1873 and by who?
What did he then do in 1879?
What was Wundt’s approach to psychology and how?
What did this approach become known as?
Rene Descartes, John Locke, Charles Darwin
Simply means the mind and body are separate entities, the brain is not the same as the mind (Rene Descartes)
The belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience and can be studied using the scientific method (John Locke)
Set the stage for the emergence of psychology as we know it today- focus on adaptive behaviours (Charles Darwin)
In 1873 Wilhelm Wundt published the first book on psychology “Principles of Physiological Psychology”
In 1879, Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany
To study the structure of the human mind, by breaking down behaviours into their basic elements
Structuralism.
What did Wundt used to investigate the human mind?
What were participants basically asked to do?
Evaluation:
What did behaviourist psychologists such as Watson question?
What did the participants do and what did this mean?
What are conscious thoughts?
What are empirical methods?
What does FROGS stand for?
Introspection
Reflect on their own conscious thoughts, described as a result of stimuli
Questioned the scientific status of introspection as it produced subjective data
The participants were recalling their own conscious thoughts meaning the results varied from participant to participant
Mental processes that cannot be observed and measured
A scientific psychology focusing on phenomenon that can be observed and measured
Falsifiable Reliable Objective Generalised Systematic.
What was born based on the previous criticisms made by Watson?
What did this begin with?
What can still be seen in psychology today?
What does the scientific method in psychology refer to?
What does this then allow for and for what purpose?
In order to make something entirely scientific, what must it follow?
What does objectivity/objective mean?
What does replicability mean?
What are empirical methods?
The behaviourist approach was born and the emergence of psychology as a science began
Began with the use of highly controlled laboratory experiments
The use of controlled laboratory experiments
Refers to investigate methods that are objective, empirically tested and replicable
This allows for theories to be developed to explain human behaviour which can then be tested and modified where needed
It must follow the three major features of science: Objectivity, reliability and empirical methods
Basing findings on fact rather than opinion
The ability to repeat a study and achieve the same findings
Phenomenon that can be observed and measured. Testing variables scientifically.
What are the two strengths of using the scientific method in psychology:
1st
2nd
+ Knowledge acquired is accurate and produces facts due to the use of objective and controlled studies
+ Allows the causes of behaviour to be established and theories developed which can then be tested and modified. Once the cause is established treatments can be developed (eg development of psychological therapies for depression).
What are the two limitations of using the scientific method in psychology:
1st
2nd
- Focuses on being object and conducting research in strictly controlled environments. This tells us little about how people will behave in their natural environments
- There are certain areas of the human behaviour and mind that cannot be observed therefore cannot be measured using the scientific method.
What is the definition of the behaviourist approach?
What is the definition of classical conditioning?
When does classical conditioning occur?
What is the definition of operant conditioning?
What is the definition of reinforcement?
What are the three consequences of using animals in psychology studies?
What is the main assumption of behaviourism?
What are the three consequences of operant conditioning?
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
Learning through association
Occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together- an unconditioned (unlearned) stimulus (UCS) and a new neutral stimulus. The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unlearned stimulus alone
Learning through reinforcement
A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated. Can be positive or negative
- Extrapolated to humans
- Consciousness
- Ethical issues of animal use
Behaviour is determined by the environment
Positive reinforcement; negative reinforcement; punishment.
What is the definition of positive reinforcement?
What is the definition of negative reinforcement?
What is the definition of punishment?
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
Occurs when an animal (or human) avoids something unpleasant
An unpleasant consequence of behaviour (finding a way to avoid this would be negative reinforcement)
