leaning unit 1: history of psychology

Question 1

what is psychology?

Answer 1

the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes

Question 2

what is structuralism based on?

Answer 2

structuralism is based on the school of psychology that analyses consciousness and it’s basic elements and investigates how these elements are related

Question 3

what is the method used to examine the contents of consciousness? explain

Answer 3

introception, which is the careful, systematic, self observation of one’s own conscious experience

Question 4

what is functionalism?

Answer 4

it investigated the purpose or function of consciousness rather than the structure

Question 5

William James argued that consciousness is a continuous flow of thoughts, this is also known as..

Answer 5

stream of consciousness

Question 6

who is Sigmund Freud and what did he discover

Answer 6

a medical physician, he discovered the unconscious.

Question 7

what is the unconscious

Answer 7

thoughts, memories and desires residing below the surface of the conscious awareness but exerting great influence on behaviour

Question 8

explain nature vs nurture

Answer 8

nature is genetic/inheritance
nurture is the contributions of the environmental factors and experience to our physical structure and behaviours

Question 9

what is behaviourism

Answer 9

behaviourism is a theoretical orientation based on the premise that scientific psychology should study only observable behaviour

Question 10

what is humanism

Answer 10

a theoretical orientation that emphasises the unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom and potential for personal growth

Question 11

what does cognition mean

Answer 11

refers to mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge

Question 12

name two humanists

Answer 12

carl rogers and abraham maslow