Chapter 5 - The Early Schools of American Psychology

Question 1

42) Edward Titchener?

Answer 1

• British psychologist who studied under Wunt, Titichner introduced structuralism (described below).
• Tichener was influential for the field of psychology because he demonstrated how mental events could be objectively measured and quantified. His rigorous scientific method along with laboratory instruction manuals laid the groundwork of psychology to become a science that was able to utalize qualitative experiments to describe mental events.

Question 2

43) Pure science?

Answer 2

• Soley focused on knowledge acquisition, disregarding it’s application.
• The emphasis on pure science enhanced the academic legitimacy of psychology within universities and research institutions. Psychologists could position themselves as scientists engaged in the pursuit of knowledge, earning recognition and respect from other scientific disciplines. The commitment to pure science drove methodological advances in psychology, including the development of experimental techniques, psychometric assessments, and statistical analysis methods. These advancements strengthened the scientific rigor of psychological research and contributed to its methodological sophistication

Question 3

44) Applied science?

Answer 3

• Focused on applied research and how psychology can have practical benefits in various fileds.
• Applied science encouraged psychologists to focus on solving practical problems and addressing specific challenges faced by individuals, organizations, and communities. This problem-solving orientation directed psychological research and interventions toward practical applications, enhancing the field’s relevance and impact.

Question 4

45) Structuralism?

Answer 4

• Founded by Edward Titchner. Focus on discovering the structure of consciousness by identifying its elements, their arrangement, and the causes behind it. Moving beyond descriptive science to explain causality.
• Introspection method; rigorous training to observe and describe mental events in deatil, stimulated by presented stimuli. Aimed to avoid the stimulus error, where the observer confuse the stimulus with its basic elements.
• Structuralism was influential for the field of psychology because he demonstrated how mental events could be objectively measured and quantified. The rigorous scientific method of introspection along with laboratory instruction manuals laid the groundwork of psychology to become a science that was able to utalize qualitative experiments to describe mental events.

Question 5

46) Functionalism

Answer 5

• Can be contrasted with Structuralism but offered a broader conceptual and methodological view of psychology. In contrasted to structuralism with Titchner as the prominent leader functionalied lacked a singular leader or coherent structure.
• Since Functionalism was much broader than structuralism it expanded the possibilities of psychology and its utilization within various fields. Functionalism used diverse methods and subject matters, covering topics running from animal behaviour to clinical psychology, advertising to psychology of law, learning to intelligence testing. Despite its lack of focus compared to structuralism, functionalism had much greater impact and give rise to many of the subfields of psychology that we see today.

Question 6

47) Dynamic psychology?

Answer 6

• Introduced by Woodworth and it challenged both structuralism and behaviorism. Argued that psychology should focus on understanding the workings of the mind, particularly the factors that lead to human feelings and actions, emphasizing cause and effect or dynamics.
• Dynamic psychology included the concept of ‘drive’ into psychology, focusing on motives and biological states as key determinants of behaviour. Proposed and S-O-R psychology, which was in opposition to the strict S-R psychology advocated by behaviourists. S-O-R psychology emphasizes the importance of organismic variables (emotions, motives, personality traits) in attrition to stimuli and responses. This empahize gave room to research on learning and perception and their connection to motivation. Dynamic psychology thereby broadened the scope of psychology and influenced subsequent research and theoretical developments.

Question 7

48) Margaret Floy Washburn?

Answer 7

• Initially studies with Cattell at Columbia but could only audit hos courses. Once she was accepted at Cornell she became Tichner;s first doctoral student and the first American Woman to receive a PhD in psychology. Washburn was also elected president of the APA, becoming the second woman to hold that office after Mary Whiton Calkins.
• Washburn made significant contributions to the field of experimental psychology, particularly in the study of animal behavior and motor theory. Her research focused on topics such as perception, consciousness, and the relationship between behavior and physiological processes. Washburn authored several influential textbooks in psychology, including “The Animal Mind” (1908) and “Motor Theories of Perception” (1916). These texts helped shape the emerging field of psychology and introduced many students to key concepts in the discipline.

Question 8

49) James Angell?

Answer 8

• Angell studied under William James and John Dewey, who were influential in functional psychology. Angel supervised around 50 doctorate in psychology, at the University of Chicago, including John Watson - the founder of behaviorism. Angell was elected president of the APA.
• Angell became the chief spokesperson for the functional view of psychology. He and used his presidential address of the APA to criticize structuralism and define the tenets of functional psychology, including understanding how and why consciousness operates. Functional psychology studies mental operations rather than mental elements and seeks to identify the fundamental utilities of consciousness in adaption to the environment, along with acknowledging the significance of the mind-body relationship. These are concepts that are still influenced in psychology today and Angell broaden the scope of psychology from the narrowness of structuralism emphaizing the need for flexibility and openness in the field of psychology.

Question 9

50) Titchener’s Experimentalist or Society of Experimental Psychology &laquo_space;Again either item?

Answer 9

• Titchener’s Experimentalists refers to an informal organization founded by Edward Titchener in 1904. It was formed in response to Titchener’s dissatisfaction with what he perceived as the lack of scientific rigor in the American Psychological Association (APA). The group was originally exclusive to men but after Titchener’s death, the group evolved into the more formal Society of Experimental Psychologists (SEP), and welcomed women.
• Despite its exclusivity and initial resistance to including women, the organization played a significant role in shaping the direction of experimental psychology in the early 20th century. Today, SEP continues to be a respected organization within the field, consisting of distinguished scientific psychologists and promoting excellence in experimental psychology research.

Question 10

51) Sexism in psychology?

Answer 10

• Sexism led to the exclusion of women from academic positions, leadership roles, and professional organizations within psychology. This limited their ability to contribute fully to the field and advance their careers. For example, women were not welcomed in Titchener’s Experimentalists group.
• Sexism resulted in the underrepresentation of women’s contributions to psychology in historical narratives and academic literature, further marginalizing their achievements and diminishing their impact on the field. However, the field has worked towards recognizing and addressing sexism, which is crucial for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusivity within the field.