Chapter 1: The Study of the History of Psychology Flashcards
Why is psychology considered to be a “nasty little subject”
Because it is limited by methods, demand characteristics, and human biases.
Why do we study the history of psychology?
Significant area of study, no single form/approach to psych exists, the past helps shape the present (ethics), integrates areas/issues within modern psychology.
What is psychology?
The study of the psyche
Who was the first to boldly make science the forefront of his thinking?
Rene Descartes
Who had the first psychology lab and how was it used?
Wilhelm Wundt- used it to answer questions empirically and trained many psychologists.
What is historiography?
History + psychology.
Who was the first historiographer?
Edwin Boring.
What are some examples of how data loss is a common issue in history?
John B Watson: Destroyed his unpublished docs
Ebbinghaus: Writings were lost for 7 years
Descartes: Letter stolen in the 1600s, found again in the 2010s.
How have some documents been altered/hidden?
Deliberate alteration of written documents (psychoanalysis is well known for this), biographies as biased and written by fanboys.
What is the idea of the person or zeitgeist?
How we focus ourselves when we study history:
Great person approach: Person, name, and how they’re known
Zeitgeist: Time, environment, culture etc.
What is the eclectic approach?
Using all approaches available to craft the story.
How does economic opportunity promote psychology?
If you’re not worried about money and food, then you have time to sit around and think.
How did the war impact psychology?
Jewish psychologists fled Europe, creating more disciplines, expansions of testing services and psychotherapy. Demanded psychological services for veterans.
How were women discriminated against in the past with regards to psychology?
Fewer appointments and lower pay for women, refusal to take married grad students, positions only available at women’s colleges.
How were different ethnicities discriminated against in early psychology?
Jewish people in early 20th century, Maslow was encouraged to change his name, African Americans afforded little opportunities until the end of the 1900s.
