Historical Roots of Psychology

Question 1

Describe the field of psychology in the 1800s

Answer 1

studied using phrenology: believed different organs in the brain corresponded to different personality traits
*was used as an excuse to justify racism and sexism

Question 2

What did the case of Phineas Gage illustrate?

Answer 2

brain damage can cause a change in personality

Question 3

Who created the 1st experimental psychology lab?

Answer 3

Wilhelm Wundt

Question 4

Structuralism

Answer 4

focused on how the mind is structured, analyzed the conscious experience by breaking it down into basic elements and using introspection
*Wundt and Titchener

Question 5

Structuralism weaknesses

Answer 5

-experience is subjective
-difficult to access subconscious aspects of cognition

Question 6

Functionalism

Answer 6

studied the purpose and function of behaviors and mental processes
*influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution
*associated with William James

Question 7

Behaviorism

Answer 7

studied only observable behavior
*associated with John Watson and Ivan Pavlov
*contributed to B.F. Skinner’s theory

Question 8

Cognitive Psychology

Answer 8

studied the cognitive processes

Question 9

Psychoanalytic Theory

Answer 9

attempts to explain how behavior and personality are influenced by unconscious processes
*Sigmund Freud

Question 10

Cross-cultural Psychology

Answer 10

draws comparisons about individual and group behaviors across cultures

Question 11

WEIRD

Answer 11

Western
Educated
Industrialized
Rich
Democratic