Approaches- The Origins Of Psychology Flashcards
What did Wilhelm Wundt establish in 1879?
Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879, marking the beginning of psychology as a distinct scientific discipline.
What was Wundt’s objective in his lab?
Wundt aimed to document and describe the nature of human consciousness through introspection, breaking down conscious thoughts into their constituent parts, a method known as structuralism.
What is introspection?
Introspection is a method where individuals record their own conscious thoughts under controlled conditions to analyze the structure of consciousness.
How did Wundt ensure scientific rigor in his experiments?
Wundt used controlled methods, such as standardized stimuli (e.g., a ticking metronome) and instructions, allowing procedures to be replicated consistently.
What is Cartesian dualism?
Proposed by René Descartes, Cartesian dualism suggests that the mind and body are independent, implying the mind could be studied separately.
Why is Wundt’s work significant?
Wundt’s work marked the separation of modern scientific psychology from its broader philosophical roots, establishing psychology as a science.
What did Watson and Skinner contribute to psychology?
Watson and Skinner introduced behaviorism, emphasizing scientific methods, controlled experiments, and the study of observable behavior, which dominated psychology for decades.
What did John Locke propose?
Locke proposed empiricism, the idea that all knowledge is gained through sensory experience, forming the basis for the behaviorist approach.
What was John B. Watson’s criticism of introspection?
Watson criticized introspection for producing subjective data that varied between individuals, making it difficult to establish general principles. He advocated for studying observable and measurable phenomena.
What is Charles Darwin’s contribution to psychology?
Darwin’s theory of evolution, including natural selection and survival of the fittest, influenced psychology by suggesting that behaviors evolve due to their adaptive value.
How did behaviorism influence modern psychology?
Behaviorism’s focus on experimental methods and observable behavior remains influential, though the scope of research has expanded to include mental processes and biological factors.
What is the cognitive revolution?
The cognitive revolution, beginning in the 1960s, reintroduced the study of mental processes using scientific methods, such as lab tests and computer models, to infer how the mind works.
What is the biological approach in psychology?
The biological approach investigates physiological processes, including brain activity, using advanced technologies like MRI and EEG, and has become a dominant scientific perspective.
What is cognitive neuroscience?
Cognitive neuroscience, emerging in the late 20th century, combines cognitive and biological approaches to study how biological structures influence mental states.
What did Sigmund Freud contribute to psychology?
Freud established the psychodynamic approach, emphasizing the unconscious mind’s influence on behavior and developing psychoanalysis as a therapeutic method.
What is the humanistic approach?
Developed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, the humanistic approach emphasizes self-determination, free will, and personal growth, rejecting deterministic views of behaviorism and psychodynamics.
What is social learning theory?
Proposed by Albert Bandura, social learning theory bridges behaviorism and cognitive approaches by highlighting the role of cognitive factors in learning and behavior.
How has psychology evolved since its early beginnings?
Psychology has expanded from introspection and behaviorism to include cognitive, biological, and neuroscientific approaches, utilizing advanced technologies and broader research methods.
