Lecture 1

Question 1

Who was involved in psychology’s early history?

Answer 1

Plato and Aristotle

Question 2

Theory of motivation :

Answer 2

1) Avoid pain 2) Seek Pleasure (Aristotle)

Question 3

Nature vs Nurture debate :

Answer 3

Who we are is in our nature (Plato) vs who we are is by how we are nurtured (Aristotle)

Question 4

Structuralism

Answer 4

Edward Titchener. Tried to understand basic “structures” of the mind (not brain) using introspection.

Question 5

Introspection

Answer 5

Focus on one stimuli and report what’s happening in the mind.

Question 6

Stimulus Error

Answer 6

When you mess up your introspection and describe the object instead of the mental state arising from focusing on the object.

Question 7

Conscious experience 2 parts (according to Structuralism)

Answer 7

1) Sensation (senses) 2) Affection (emotions, feelings)

Question 8

Functionalism

Answer 8

William James. Critique of Structuralism. More analytical, less subjective. Adaptive function of consciousness.

Question 9

Gestalt

Answer 9

Kurt Koffka. Critique of Structuralism. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Making sense of multiple inputs at once, not individual ones.

Question 10

Behaviourism

Answer 10

John Watson, B.F. Skinner. Very influential. Considered all early forms of psychology too subjective. Only dealt with behaviours, seen they can be seen, vs things of the mind, which cannot. (Strongly nurture over nature)

Question 11

Psychoanalysis

Answer 11

Sigmund Freud. Very influential. Clinical setting. Tapping into unconscious - the busy mental life we are unaware of. Mental illnesses develop due to mental problems in the unconscious.

Question 12

Psychology (definition and subfields)

Answer 12

Scientific study of mental processes and behaviours.

Subfields (among others): Clinical / Abnormal, Neuropsychology, Cognitive psych, Developmental psych, Social psych.

Question 13

Confirmation Bias

Answer 13

We have a tendency to search for info that confirms our preconceptions (our brains are more adapted for survival than science)

Question 14

Scientific Method

Answer 14

Circle consisting of: Theory, Hypothesis, Research.

Question 15

Theory

Answer 15

Set of principles that can be used to explain observances.

Question 16

Hypothesis

Answer 16

Testable statement about relationships between variables.

Question 17

Case Study

Answer 17

Studying someone with lots of detail, usually unique cases. Vivid, but subjective.

Question 18

Research Strategies

Answer 18

Observation, Self-report, assessment.

Question 19

Observation (Research Strategy)

Answer 19

Watch people behave how they naturally would. Record behaviour. Experimenter effect, people behave differently under observation.

Question 20

Self-Report (Research Strategy)

Answer 20

People report about themselves. Ask people about their psychological states. People bias, they see themselves incorrectly.

Question 21

Assessment (Research Strategy)

Answer 21

Standardized tests, usually with large groups

Question 22

Brain vs mind

Answer 22

brain is a physical organ while mind is internal mental states and activities