early psychology in the US

Question 1

what is positivism?

Answer 1

authentic knowledge only comes from scientific method

Question 2

what is the experimental method of positivism?

Answer 2

observation and description

Question 3

what is the positivist view on phenomena?

Answer 3

there is a single set of phenomena underlying everything

Question 4

how are experiences described under positivism?

Answer 4

interactions at an atomic level in the brain

Question 5

how does positivism describe psychology?

Answer 5

psychology is dependent on the biological system

Question 6

what is titchener’s theory?

Answer 6

structuralism

Question 7

what is structuralism?

Answer 7

consciousness is the sum total of mental experiences at any given moment

Question 8

what does structuralism say about the self?

Answer 8

there is no self

Question 9

what does titchener say about apperception?

Answer 9

apperception is an observed interaction, not a mental process

Question 10

what does titchener say about clearer sensations?

Answer 10

clearer sensations have been attended to

Question 11

does titchener look for correlation or causation?

Answer 11

correlation

Question 12

what is titchener’s 3 step method for studying mental events?

Answer 12

1. catalogue mental elements via introspection
2. determine how elements passively combine
3. find neurological correlates of mental events

Question 13

what view does titchener take?

Answer 13

titchener is a positivist

Question 14

what view does titchener take?

Answer 14

titchener is a positivist

Question 14

what view does titchener take?

Answer 14

titchener is a positivist

Question 14

what view does titchener take?

Answer 14

titchener is a positivist

Question 15

how do you catalogue mental events?

Answer 15

divide mental experience until you can go no further, look for atoms of experience

Question 16

when do you achieve a mental element?

Answer 16

when a mental event can be divided no further

Question 17

what does titchener say about ‘real’ experience?

Answer 17

there is a real experience beoynd human experience, where there are only sensations

Question 18

what was titchener’s legacy?

Answer 18

he was mostly ignored, there was no fuctional/practical value for structuralism

Question 19

what are the 3 things william james said psychology has to do to become a natural science?

Answer 19

1. abandon questions about the soul
2. assume there are states of mind that are aware of the physical world
3. assume a physical world exists

Question 20

what was titchener’s view on consciousness?

Answer 20

consciousness constitutes of distinct elements, defined by quality, clearness etc

Question 21

what was james’ view on consciousness?

Answer 21

there is a flowing stream of consciousness, transitions between items are of central importance

Question 22

what did james say about consciousness’ role in survival?

Answer 22

consciousness is crucial for survival, helping people cope with environmental changes

Question 23

what 3 experimental methods did james use?

Answer 23

introspection, experimental methods, and the comparative method

Question 24

what is the comparative method?

Answer 24

study animal instincts and reasoning, compare to human mental products (language, morals etc)

Question 25

what is james’ theory of emotion?

Answer 25

behaviour comes first, followed by the emotional state

Question 26

how does theory of emotion contradict james’ original view on consciousness?

Answer 26

consciousness is not crucial for survival, it is not in control

Question 27

what do brain reflexes say about behaviour?

Answer 27

behaviour is a complex of arch reflexes

Question 28

what do brain reflexes say about consciousness?

Answer 28

consciousness is epiphenomenal

Question 29

what do brain reflexes say about behaviour?

Answer 29

behaviour is psychological

Question 30

what do brain reflexes say about consciousness?

Answer 30

there is no need for consciousness

Question 31

what does practical science say about psychology?

Answer 31

applications are more important than theoretical insights