ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY Flashcards
what was the original name for psychology during the early 17th-19th century?
experimental psychology
what does the concept of cartesian dualism suggest?
The mind and body are separate.
The brain is not the same as the mind.
Who’s concept is cartesian dualism?
Rene Descartes’s
What is empiricism?
the belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience observation.
Who is Wilhelm Wundt?
father of psychology, opened the first psychology laboratory in Germany
What was Wundt’s approach to psychology?
STRUCTURALISM-to study the human mind by breaking down behaviours into their basic elements
what did Wundt mean by Introspection?
The first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up the conscious awareness into structures of thoughts, images and sensations. Introspections were recorded under controlled conditions.
People were trained to do this analysis to make the data objective rather than subjective
people were presented with standardised sensory events like a ticking metronome and asked to report their reactions.
What are the limitations on introspection?
The data produced was subjective.It varied greatly from person to person making it difficult to establish general laws of behaviour.
Why was Waston critical of Introspection’s focus on ‘private’ mental processes?
He argued that you should study behaviours that are observable and measurable, for something to be truly scientific.
What is Watson’s view based on?
Empiricism- empiricists believe that knowledge comes from observation and experience alone.
what is the behaviourist approach?
the emergence of psychology as a science.It had the aim to discover psychology as a science.
what did behaviourists focus on?
behaviours they can see (observe) and used carefully controlled experiments.
what 2 assumptions was the behaviourist approach based on?
THE ASSUMPTION OF DETERMINISM
THE ASSUMPTION OF PREDICTABILITY
what is the ‘assumption of determinism’ ?
All behaviour is seen as being caused or determined
what is the ‘assumption of predictability’ ?
If behaviour is determined then it should be possible to predict how human beings would behave in different conditions.
What is the scientific method?
The scientific method refers to the use of investigative methods that are:
- objective
-systematic
-replicable
what is the definition of objective?
basing findings on facts, rather than opinion
what is the definition of subjective?
basing findings on opinion, rather than fact
STRENGTHS of the scientific method?
(evaluation)
STRENGTHS:
-focuses on being objective and conducting research in strictly controlled environments.
- knowledge acquired is accurate and produces facts due to the use of objective and controlled studies.
-allows the causes of behaviour to be established and theories developed which can then be tested and modified.
- once the cause is established, treatments can be developed.
LIMITATIONS of the scientific method?
LIMITATIONS:
-the objective and conducting research in controlled environments tells LITTLE about how people will behave in their natural environments.
- there are certain areas of the human behaviour and mind that can not be observed therefore cannot be measured by using the scientific method.
who rejects the behaviourist approach?
Rogers and Maslow develop the humanist approach - they emphasise the importance of self determination and free will.
What is the cognitive approach (1950) ?
The study of internal mental processes, the use of theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes.The emergence of cognitive neuroscience.
STRENGTHS of the cognitive approach?
- advances in technology allowed scientific predictions to be tested.
-technology allowed scientists to link the mind to a computer and analyse deeply.
What is the Biological approach (1980) ?
the influence of genes, biological structures and neurochemistry on
behaviour. Genotype and phenotype, genetic basis of behaviour, evolution and behaviour.
