Approaches - The Origins Of Psychology

Question 1

Who was the first person to call themselves a psychologist?

Answer 1

Wilhelm Wundt

Question 2

Why was Wundt important?

Answer 2

Because he separated psychology from philosophy.

Question 3

How did Wundt believe the human mind could be studied?

Answer 3

Scientifically

Question 4

When and where did Wundt establish a laboratory?

Answer 4

In Leipzig, Germany, in 1879.

Question 5

What was Wundt’s aim?

Answer 5

To study the structure of the human mind.

Question 6

What did Wundt believe was the best way to study the structure of the human mind?

Answer 6

To break down behaviours such as sensation and perception into their basic elements.

Question 7

What was Wundt’s approach referred to as?

Answer 7

Structuralism

Question 8

What technique did Wundt use?

Answer 8

Introspection

Question 9

What was Wundt’s emphasis on?

Answer 9

Objective measurement and control.

Question 10

Because of Wundt’s emphasis being on objective measurements and control, what aspects of behaviour did he study?

Answer 10

Only aspects of behaviour that could be strictly controlled under experimental conditions.

Question 11

What did Wundt originally believe about all aspects of human experience?

Answer 11

That they could all be investigated experimentally.

Question 12

What did Wundt eventually come to realise about higher mental processes?

Answer 12

That they could not be studied in a strict controlled manner.

Question 13

Examples of higher mental processes.

Answer 13

Learning, languages and emotions.

Question 14

How did he describe topics of higher mental processes?

Answer 14

Described in terms of general trends in behaviour among groups of people.

Question 15

What did he refer to the field of study of higher mental processes.

Answer 15

Völkerpsychologie (cultural psychology).

Question 16

Introspection

Answer 16

The process by which a person gains knowledge about their own mental and emotional states as a result of the examination or observation of their conscious thoughts and feelings.

Question 17

What did Wundt think training in introspection would result in?

Answer 17

The ability to systematically observe mental processes such as memory and perception as they occurred.

Question 18

Wundt research: in studies of perception what were participants resented with?

Answer 18

Controlled stimuli - visual images/auditory tones.

Question 19

Wundt research: what were participants asked to provide a description of?

Answer 19

The inner processes they were experiencing in response and how they were perceiving it.

Question 20

Wundt research: what could the information from the participants e used for?

Answer 20

To gain insight into the nature of mental processes. Made it possible to compare different participant’s responses to the sane stimuli, therefore establish general theories about mental processes.

Question 21

Emergence of psychology as a science: When was scientific psychology born and what was it fostered by?

Answer 21

At the end of the 19th century - fostered by the life in empiricism.

Question 22

Emergence of psychology as a science: What does all knowledge cone from and who put this into practice?

Answer 22

From observation and experience. By Wundt and his followers.

Question 23

Emergence of psychology as a science: what two assumptions is scientific psychology based on?

Answer 23

All behaviour is caused and based on this, behaviour is predictable.

Question 24

Emergence of psychology as a science: what can we do if we can discern the factors that affect behaviour?

Answer 24

Discern how people will behave in different conditions.

Question 25

Scientific method

Answer 25

Refers to the use of investigative methods that are objective, systematic and replicable, and the formulation, testing and modification of hypotheses based on these methods.

Question 26

The scientific cycle

Answer 26

Testing -> Objective, systematic and replicable observation -> Building, refining of falsifying -> Development of a scientific theory

Question 27

Empiricism

Answer 27

The belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience. It is generally characterised by the use of the scientific method in psychology.

Question 28

Objective

Answer 28

Assumptions and biases do not influence data collection.

Question 29

Systematic

Answer 29

Variables are identified, controlled and accurate measures are made.

Question 30

Replicable

Answer 30

Researchers can repeat the test to gain the same results.

Question 31

What do replicable results do?

Answer 31

Build theories.

Question 32

How are theories tested?

Answer 32

In the research cycle.

Question 33

Positive of scientific approach to psychology: what does reliance on objective and systematic methods of observation mean?

Answer 33

That knowledge acquired using the scientific method is more than just passive acceptance of facts.

Question 34

Positive of scientific approach to psychology: what does the scientific methods reliance on determinism mean?

Answer 34

That they are able to establish causes of behaviour through use of methods that are both empirical and replicable.

Question 35

Positive of scientific approach to psychology: What can be done if scientific theories no longer fit the facts?

Answer 35

They can be refined or abandoned, meaning scientific knowledge is self-corrective.

Question 36

Positive of scientific approach to psychology: What is a results of psychologists are always repeating other’s experiments?

Answer 36

That it is hard for theories that do not explain facts to hang on for very long.

Question 37

Wundt’s methods were unreliable: What type of responses dis his approach rely primarily on?

Answer 37

Non-observable responses.

Question 38

Wundt’s methods were unreliable: Although participants could report on conscious experiences, processes themselves (eg memory, perception) were considered to be what?

Answer 38

Unobservable constructions.

Question 39

Wundt’s methods were unreliable: Why was method of introspection not reliable?

Answer 39

Introspective ‘experimental’ results not reliably reproducable by other researchers.

Question 40

Wundt’s methods were unreliable: Who was already achieving reliably reproducible results and discovering explanatory principles easily generalised to all human beings?

Answer 40

Early behaviourists like Pavlov and Thorndike.

Question 41

Introspection is not particularly accurate: what claim do most psychologists accept?

Answer 41

Nisbett and Wilson’s (1977) claim that we have very little knowledge of the causes of and processes underlying our behaviour and attitudes.

Question 42

Introspection is not particularly accurate: what does Nisbett and Wilson’s claim challenge? Example?

Answer 42

The value of introspective reports. E.g. participants unaware of factors influencing choices or attitudes.

Question 43

Limitations of Scientific approach to psychology: what do scientific psychologists create by concentrating on objectivity and control in observations?

Answer 43

Contrived situations that tell us very little about how people act in natural environments.

Question 44

Limitations of Scientific approach to psychology: what is the consequence of much of the subject matter of psychology being unobservable?

Answer 44

That most of it cannot be measured with any degree of accuracy.

Question 45

Limitations of Scientific approach to psychology: what is it probably true to say about psychology of all the sciences?

Answer 45

That it is the most inferential, i.e. there is a far bigger gap between the actual data obtained in research investigations and the theories put forward to explain this data.

Question 46

Limitations of Scientific approach to psychology: what view do not all psychologist share?

Answer 46

That all human behaviour can be explored by the use of scientific methods.

Question 47

Limitations of Scientific approach to psychology: what is true if human behaviour is not subject to the laws and regularities implied by scientific methods?

Answer 47

That predictions become impossible and these methods inappropriate.

Question 48

Positive of introspection: it is still useful in scientific psychology. Who used it in 2003 and what did they do?

Answer 48

Csikszentmihalyi and Hunter used introspective methods as a way of making ‘happiness’ a measurable phenomenon. Teenagers had to write down thoughts and feelings at random times in day when a beeper went off. Most entries indicated teenagers were unhappy rather than happy. But when their energies were focused on challenging task, tended to be more upbeat.