History And Perspectives

Question 1

What two disciplines formed the basis of psychology??

Answer 1

Structuralism and functionalism

Question 2

What is structuralism??

Answer 2

Analyze consciousness into basic elements

Question 3

What is functionalism

Answer 3

Concentrate on the function. Investigate function of consciousness

Question 4

What is introspection??

Answer 4

Careful, systematic observations of ones own conscious experience. Part of structuralism

Question 5

What is the emphasis of the psychoanalytic perspective

Answer 5

Emphasis on unconscious processes influencing behavior. Unconscious meaning outside awareness through subliminal images/messages

Question 6

Is there any evidence to support the idea of the unconscious??

Answer 6

Unconscious conflict related to sexuality??? Then aggression plays a smaller secondary role

Question 7

What is behaviorism

Answer 7

The study of observable behavior. Observable responses or activities.

Question 8

What sort of things were and were not studied when behaviorism dominated the field?

Answer 8

Things studied= observable behavior I.e. observable responses/activities
Things not studied= consciousness (was abandoned)

Question 9

What is the nature-nurture debate and which side were behaviorists on??

Answer 9

Nature-nurture debate is the debate that your genetics is what shapes who you are (nature), or that the environment which you live in is what shapes who you are (nurture). Behaviorists were on the nurture side

Question 10

What determines behavior in the eyes of behaviorists like Skinner

Answer 10

Believe that environmental factors determine behaviors. Focus on stimulus-response relationships. Responses positive= outcomes are repeated . Responses negative= outcomes are not repeated

Question 11

What is it that the humanists believe is the weakness of behaviorism? What do they emphasize as a result?

Answer 11

That behaviorism is dehumanizing. Humanists emphasize on the unique qualities of humans: freedom and personal growth

Question 12

What do cognitive psychologists think is the weakness of behaviorism? What do they emphasize as a result?

Answer 12

They emphasize mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge

Question 13

What separates cognitive psychology from earlier study of cognition?

Answer 13

Apply scientific methods to studying internal mental events

Question 14

What is neuroscience

Answer 14

Studying the basic building blocks of the mind. Focuses on physiological processes of the brain and body. E.g., electrical stimulation of the brain evokes emotional responses (fear)

Question 15

What did cultural psychologists see as a weakness in earlier research?

Answer 15

Mostly WEIRD people studied (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic)

Question 16

What research do cultural psychologists do to remedy the weakness in earlier research?

Answer 16

Increased interests in how cultural factors influence behavior. Broadened which people they studied. (Japanese vs. American interpretations on stock trends)

Question 17

What is the main premise of evolutionary psychology?

Answer 17

Natural selection occurs for behavioral and physical characteristics

Question 18

What is the main premise of evolutionary psychology? (Trick question)???

Answer 18

Believe it’s almost always both nature & nurture but relative contribution of each is still argued and nurture can modify nature. Opposed to radical behaviorist view.

Question 19

What did positive psychology see as a weakness in previous research?

Answer 19

Use it theory and research to better understand the positive, creative, and fulfilling aspects of human existence. Positive individual traits, institutions, communities and subjective experiences