Chapter 3: The Psychological Approach

Question 1

What does Behaviorism support?

Answer 1

Behaviorism supports that the environment is accountable for every action of an individual, instead of the mind.

Question 2

What is the most widely used scientific method in cognitive science and psychology?

Answer 2

An experiment that is conducted to test a hypothesis

Question 3

What is the voluntarism movement?

Answer 3

Voluntarism views the mind as consisting of elements which are assembled into higher-level cognitive components through the power of the will. Voluntarism was inspired by chemistry. (Wundt)

Question 4

What does Introspection mean?

Answer 4

Inward looking

Question 5

What are Wundt’s dimensions in the tri-dimensional theory of feeling?

Answer 5

pleasure-displeasure, tension-relaxation, excitement-depression

Question 6

What is Creative Synthesis (law of psychic resultants)?

Answer 6

According to this principle, the mind actively organizes disparate elements together such that the resulting whole contains new properties

Question 7

What is the Structuralist’s view?

Answer 7

According to Structuralism the mind is a passive agent, not an active one. Structuralism focuses on mind’s structure. (its basic mental elements and their combination)

Question 8

What are according to Titchener the four (plus one) attributes of sensations?

Answer 8

Quality, Intensity, Duration, Clearness (+Extensity)

Question 9

What was the main critique of introspectionism?

Answer 9

The process is subjective and unreliable since trained introspection biases participants’ corresponding.

Question 10

What is James’ psychologist’s fallacy?

Answer 10

One person’s subjective element response to a perception does not guarantee that the same element will exist in someone else’s mind who experiences the same perception.

Question 11

In what two ways could the term “function” be interpreted according to Functionalists?

Answer 11

Function can be either:

1) an activity or process (such as memory)
2) or the utility of an activity to the organism

Question 12

What does the Gestalt approach suggest?

Answer 12

Conscious wholes cannot be reduced to a listing and description of their parts.

Question 13

What does Phenomenology refer to?

Answer 13

Phenomenology refers to subjective experience (rather than objective description)

Question 14

How does Phenomenology differ from Introspection?

Answer 14

Phenomenology focuses on a person’s immediate subjective perception of an external stimulus and it doesn’t require training (it’s less controlled)

Question 15

What is Insight Learning according to Kohler?

Answer 15

Insight learning is the seemingly spontaneous understanding of relationships that produces a solution to a problem

Question 16

What are the principles of Perceptual Organization?

Answer 16

Principles of

1) Proximity
2) Similarity
3) Closure (parts from complete and enclosed object)
4) Pragnaz (simple parts will group together)

Question 17

What is the Isomorphism perspective?

Answer 17

A perception is identical in form or shape to the brain activity that gives rise to

Question 18

What does the Three -Tiered System of Consciousness proposed by Freud consist of?

Answer 18

Conscious mind (thoughts and feelings we can directly access), Pre-conscious mind (aspects of mind we can bring into awareness with effort), Unconscious (aspects of mind we are completely unaware of)

Question 19

According to Freud, what do Id, Superego and Ego operate on?

Answer 19

Pleasure Principle (sex, hunger), Idealistic Principle (ethical sense), Reality Principle (rational acts)

Question 20

What is Operant Conditioning?

Answer 20

Type of learning in which behavior is strengthened by reinforcement and diminished by punishment

Question 21

What is the Latent Learning?

Answer 21

Type of learning without any reinforcements

Question 22

What are the four stages of Insight Learning according to Wallas? (IN DEPTH section)

Answer 22

1. Preparation (acquisition and understanding of a problem)
2. Incubation (problem is put aside, unconscious mind searches for a solution)
3. Illumination (solution comes to awareness)
4. Verification (confirmation of the correct solution)

Question 23

What is the Zeigarnik effect? (IN DEPTH section)

Answer 23

A phenomenon of remembering more information when there has been an interruption (in the learning or action experience)