APPROACHES-Origins of psycology

Question 1

What did Wilhelm Wundt do in 1873 and 1879

Answer 1

-1873 published his first book ‘‘principles of Physiological
psychology’’
-1879 he opened a psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany

Question 2

What was Wundt’s approach?

Answer 2

To study the structure of the human mind by breaking down behaviours into their essential elements known as structuralism

Question 3

Define introspection

Answer 3

The process where a person gains knowledge about their own mental and emotional state as a result of an examination or observation of their conscious thoughts and feelings

Question 4

What is a strength of early psychology?

Answer 4

Introspection is still useful in some areas of psychology- it can be used to measure happiness (used in a study in 2003),Study asked teenagers to explain their thoughts and feeling at different points in the day so it still has some practical applications

Question 5

What is a weakness of early psychology?

Answer 5

-Low external validity
-Can only be used for certain participants
-People with severe learning disabilities or animals cant use this method as they would be able to describe there their thoughts and feelings
-Method is not universally applicable or inclusive

Question 6

Define Empiricism

Answer 6

The belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience

Question 7

What is the scientific method?

Answer 7

The use of investigation methods that are objective, systematic and reliable and the formulation, testing and modification of hypotheses based on these methods

Question 8

What methods are used in the scientific method?

Answer 8

-Ask a question
-State a hypothesis
-Conduct an experiment
-Analyze the results
-Make a conclusion
-Repeat

Question 9

What are the 5 key features of the scientific method?

Answer 9

-Objectivity
-Reliability
-Empirical methods
-Hypothesis testing
-Falsifiability

Question 10

Define objectivity

Answer 10

Being uninfluenced by personal opinions or past experience, being free of bias

Question 11

Define reliability

Answer 11

The ability to repeat a study and achieve the same findings

Question 12

Define Empirical methods

Answer 12

The phenomenon that can be observed and measured by testing scientifically

Question 13

Define hypothesis testing

Answer 13

Stating a hypothesis and then testing it until it can be falsified

Question 14

Define falsifiability

Answer 14

The possibility that a hypothesis can be proved wrong

Question 15

Give a strength of the scientific method (objective, causes of behaviour, theories can be tested)

Answer 15

Accurate-objective and controlled studies, allows causes of behaviour to be identified, theories can be tested and modified

Question 16

Give a limitation of the scientific method. (objectivity, naturally)

Answer 16

Objectivity does not allow people to behave naturally

Question 17

What a weakness of the origins of psychology (Subjective)

Answer 17

-Subjective method of experimentation
-Experimental methods usually aim to be objective but it is subjective as they may be influenced by cognitive biases (eg. religion + upbringing)
-One person may experience a thought and think that it is negative whereas someone may have the same thought and view it as realistic
-Due to self-reporting data may differ even if the experience is the same
-This makes it ungernerealisbale, hard to replicate and unreabliabe

Question 18

Give a strength of origins of psychology

Answer 18

-Therapies used to treat mental health conditions today use some ideas from introspection
-For example, psychodynamic therapy looks to find the root cause of your problems, introspection can help with this
-CBT also reflects on your current state, similar to introspection
-These therapies have been effective at treating mental health conditions

Question 19

Give a limitation of the scientific method (low ecological validty)

Answer 19

P- Low ecological validity
E- focuses on being objective and is used in highly controlled environments
E-Tells us little about how people behave in their natural environments
L-Findings cannot be generalized to a real-life setting.

Question 20

Give a limitation of the scientific method

Answer 20

-Unreliable
-Certain areas of human behaviour which cannot be observed
-Therefore cannot be measured using the scientific method

Question 21

Give an advantage of the scientific method

Answer 21

-Icreased objectivity
-Knowledge acquired is accurate and produces facts
-Use of objective and controlled studies

Question 22

Give an advantage of the scientific method

Answer 22

Same as origins