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Psychology - Approaches > Origins Of Psychology > Flashcards

Origins Of Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What did psychology begin as?

A

A branch of philosophy

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2
Q

Who was the first person to separate modern psychology from its broader philosophical roots?

A

Wilhelm Wundt

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3
Q

What did Wundt do?

A
  • Opened the first lab
  • Introduced method of introspection
  • Introduced use of standardised procedures
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4
Q

What was Wundt’s aim?

A

To study the nature of the human mind and consciousness in a controlled environment, using more scientific methods

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5
Q

What was Wundt’s lab?

A

‘Institute for Experimental Psychology’ in Leipzig, Germany

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6
Q

When did Wundt open his lab and start up modern scientific psychology?

A

1879

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7
Q

What is introspection?

A

The first systematic attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures (structuralism) of thoughts, images + sensations that ppts describe

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8
Q

What is structuralism?

A

The breaking up of conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images, sensations (for study as part of introspection)

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9
Q

Outline briefly the process of introspection

A
  • Ppts told to focus on everyday object + ‘look inwards’ to notice own thoughts and feelings
  • Ppts systematically report these thoughts + feelings
  • Wundt recorded the reports + combined them to generate theories about how the mind works
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10
Q

Did Wundt think introspection was scientific?

A

Yes

  • Encouraged individuals to ‘look inwards’ with focus on objectivity
  • Findings were systematically reported + recorded
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11
Q

Was Wundt actually scientific?

A

Partially

  • Broke down consciousness into categories
  • Recorded systematically
  • Completed introspection in controlled environment (lab)
  • Used standardised procedures to make his results more reliable

Not completely

  • Introspection (main method) relied on ppts self-reports being objective + them not lying about private inner thoughts
  • Relied on Wundt’s interpretation of results being objective
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12
Q

How did Wundt use standardised procedures?

A
  • Used same standardised instructions for ppts
  • Used same stimulus in same environment
  • Used same categories of observation: thoughts, images, sensations
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13
Q

What was the significance of Wundt’s work?

A
  • Started the movement towards scientific, modern psych

- Laid the foundations for future approaches (particularly behaviourist + cognitive)

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14
Q

Give a positive evaluation point for Wundt

A

Made a significant step in paving way for modern psych

  • Increased scientific nature (E.g. using lab)
  • Introduced some methods still used (e.g. standardisation)
  • Paved way for Behaviourist + Cognitive approaches
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15
Q

Give a negative evaluation point for Wundt

A

Criticised by later psychologists for not being scientific enough

  • Watson criticised Wundt for being too idiographic + subjective, despite his step towards being more scientific
  • Idiographic: tried to make general laws based on reports of few ppts
  • Subjective: relied on self-report of private feelings + his interpretation
  • So, there was more work to be done to make psychology more scientific
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16
Q

What was Wundt’s main method of research?

A

Introspection

17
Q

Outline the timeline of psychological approaches development

A 
1900s - Behaviourist + Psychodynamic
1950s - Cognitive + Humanistic
1960s - SLT 
1980s - Biological 
Recently - Cognitive neuroscience (bridged Cognitive + Biological)
18
Q

Describe the introduction of the Behaviourist Approach

A
  • 1900s
  • Pioneered by Watson + built upon by Skinner
  • Cause: thought Wundt’s psychology needed to become more scientific, objective + nomothetic
  • Methodology: rejected introspection + focused on taking an empirical approach to determine cause-effect from observable behaviour
19
Q

Describe the introduction of the Psychodynamic Approach

A
  • 1900s
  • Less popular than Behaviourism
  • Pioneered by Freud
  • Focused on looking at the unconscious + its influence on behaviour
20
Q

Describe the introduction of the Cognitive Approach

A
  • 1950s
  • Cause: digital revolution birthed a new metaphor for the mind (computers)
  • Reintroduced focus on internal mental processes, but made inferences based on much more objective research than Wundt
21
Q

Describe the introduction of the Humanistic Approach

A
  • 1950s
  • Pioneered by Maslow + Rogers
  • Cause: rejected the determinism of previous approaches (e.g. Behaviourist + Psychodynamic) - wanted focus on human free will
22
Q

Describe the introduction of the SLT Approach

A
  • 1960s
  • Pioneered by Bandura
  • Focus on role of cognitive factors in learning
  • Bridged the Cognitive + Behaviourist approaches
23
Q

Describe the introduction of the Biological Approach

A
  • 1980s
  • Cause: technological advances were taken advantage of (e.g. brain scans + genetic research) to make psych more scientific
  • Focus on the physiological cause of psychological behaviour
24
Q

Describe the introduction of Cognitive Neuroscience

A
  • Recently
  • Cause: further technological advancements
  • Bridged the Biological + Cognitive approaches
25
Q

Is psychology a science?

A

Some argue it is and some argue it isn’t

Some approaches are often seen as less scientific - Humanistic + Psychodynamic

26
Q

Give 2 arguments FOR psychology being a science

A

Arguably HAS a paradigm

  • Mutual agreement on definition of psychology
  • Has been a paradigm shift towards more objective research (Wundt -> Watson)

Has contributed to accepted sciences + the healthcare profession

  • E.g. Structure of brain/Wernicke + Broca’s areas - Biology
  • E.g. CBT + other therapies - healthcare, treating mental disorders
27
Q

Give 2 arguments AGAINST psychology being a science

A

Arguably DOESN’T HAVE a paradigm

  • Various approaches mean there are no recognised set of assumptions + methods
  • Humanistic + Psychodynamic approaches rejected paradigm shift towards objectivity

Theories are constantly changing

  • Human behaviour is constantly changing as social/cultural norms change
  • Theories quickly become outdated + lack temporal validity
  • So, psychological theories aren’t set forever like most ‘normal’ accepted scientific theories (e.g. gravity)

Psychology - Approaches (7 decks)

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