Introduction and Main Theoretical Currents in Psychology Flashcards
What is psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes
What are theprimary goals of psychology?
- Describe behaviour- what is the nature of this behaviour?
- Understand & Explain behaviour- why does it occur?
- Predict behaviour- can we forecast when and under what circumstances it will occur?
- Control behaviour- what factors influence this behaviour?
What is structuralism?
Structuralism attempts to examine the human mind by uncovering the structure of consciousness by breaking it down into its basic elements (thoughts, feelings, sensations etc).
Wundt believed that human mind & behaviour can be explained by the breaking down conscious experiences into its basic elements.
Titchener didn’t see anything outside the scope of introspection as being ‘psychological’.
Doesn’t look at consciousness but rather the individual parts that makes it up.
Who are the main contributers of structuralism?
Wilhelm Wundt and Titchener
What is functionalism?
William James aimed to ‘debunk’ the theory of structuralism. Arguing that our mind is a functional tool that allows us to adapt to our environments and that it cannot be broken down into structures. Our mental states & behaviours act as survival mechanisms.
Who is the main contributer of functionalism?
William James
Who are the main contributers of behaviourism?
Pavlov and Watson- Classical conditioning
B.F Skinner- Operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Pavlov & Watson spoke about classical conditioning which in simple terms are learned behaviours/ emotions that we are taught.
Pavlov used his dogs to study if he could condition a response to a previously neutral stimulus after the subject repeatedly encounters the neutral stimulus together with another stimulus that already elicits the response (the conditioned stimulus would be the bell that made the dogs drool).
- Unconditioned Stimulus- things or events that rouse a certain behaviour naturally (food).
- Conditioned Stimulus- a stimulus that is trained to evoke a particular behaviour/response (bell)
Watson believed that only overt behaviour could be studied. He felt like he could change any individual based on their environment. Eg. Evoking fear towards a white rat with the use of another stimulus (noise).
Classical conditioning is learnt behaviour that evokes emotional responses whereas operant is learned behaviours that because there is something to be gained from it.
What is operant conditioning?
B.F Skinner spoke about operant conditioning which has nothing to do with normal emotional responses. These behaviours are learnt because they are needed. Operant can be gained, lost or changed. It is learned because someone is to be gained out of learning it.
Classical conditioning is learnt behaviour that evokes emotional responses whereas operant is learned behaviours that because there is something to be gained from it.
What are the 3 criticisms of behaviourism?
- Doesn’t explain language learning
- Doesn’t explain why persons respond differently to the same stimulus (all students don’t learn the same)
- Doesn’t explain that reinforcement can reduce motivation
What is psychoanalysis?
Focuses on the unconscious aspects of the mind and psychosexual development personality is established at age 5 and early childhood experiences impact personality and behaviours.
Sigmund Freud explained that human personality can be divided into the conscious and unconscious. When the unconscious conflicts become too intense and the defence mechanisms are too restrictive the individual begins to show mental health symptoms.
The goal of psychoanalysis is to make you conscious of your unconscious defence mechanisms and to best express these desires.
Free association is a big part of psychoanalysis as it allows the individual to open up and better understand their unconscious mind (word and picture association).
Transference: Taking out anger onto other individuals. The therapist can help the subject to identify the defence mechanism, determine underlying impulse and replace it with a healthier expression of emotion.
What is humanisitic psychology?
They viewed personality with a focus on the potential for healthy personal growth.
Maslow believed that we needed to meet all our needs based on his hierarchy and that we ai to reach our full potentials (self-actualization).
Rogers said that genuineness, acceptance & empathy are the nutrients required to make a good individual.
What is gestalt psychology?
Focused on studying mental processes and behaviours as wholes rather than separate parts. The whole is greater than its parts. Human beings try to find order amidst disorder. Example: lights turning on and off in sequential order.
Gestalt therapy tries to focus on the present rather than focuses on past or present.
Founded by Max Wertheimer
What are the elements of gestalt psychology?
Proximity: objects close are put in a group (letters forming words)
Similarity: similar objects are put in a group
Figure Ground: instinctively put objects in the fore/back ground
Continuity: we gauge continuous lines as a unit
Closure: prefer to see the complete rather than the partial
Common fate: seen moving together, are grouped together (army formation)
Symmetry: symmetry takes precedence over proximity (brackets)
What is cognitive psychology?
Piaget studied cognitive psychology which is the explanation for mental processes (how we think- process & retain information). It shows that behaviour affects the environment and the environment affects behaviour and the cycle continues. It criticized behaviourism.
