ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY

Question 1

what was the original name for psychology during the early 17th-19th century?

Answer 1

experimental psychology

Question 2

what does the concept of cartesian dualism suggest?

Answer 2

The mind and body are separate.
The brain is not the same as the mind.

Question 3

Who’s concept is cartesian dualism?

Answer 3

Rene Descartes’s

Question 4

What is empiricism?

Answer 4

the belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience observation.

Question 5

Who is Wilhelm Wundt?

Answer 5

father of psychology, opened the first psychology laboratory in Germany

Question 6

What was Wundt’s approach to psychology?

Answer 6

STRUCTURALISM-to study the human mind by breaking down behaviours into their basic elements

Question 7

what did Wundt mean by Introspection?

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

What are the limitations on introspection?

Answer 8

The data produced was subjective.It varied greatly from person to person making it difficult to establish general laws of behaviour.

Question 9

Why was Waston critical of Introspection’s focus on ‘private’ mental processes?

Answer 9

He argued that you should study behaviours that are observable and measurable, for something to be truly scientific.

Question 10

What is Watson’s view based on?

Answer 10

Empiricism- empiricists believe that knowledge comes from observation and experience alone.

Question 11

what is the behaviourist approach?

Answer 11

the emergence of psychology as a science.It had the aim to discover psychology as a science.

Question 12

what did behaviourists focus on?

Answer 12

behaviours they can see (observe) and used carefully controlled experiments.

Question 13

what 2 assumptions was the behaviourist approach based on?

Answer 13

THE ASSUMPTION OF DETERMINISM

THE ASSUMPTION OF PREDICTABILITY

Question 14

what is the ‘assumption of determinism’ ?

Answer 14

All behaviour is seen as being caused or determined

Question 15

what is the ‘assumption of predictability’ ?

Answer 15

If behaviour is determined then it should be possible to predict how human beings would behave in different conditions.

Question 16

What is the scientific method?

Answer 16

The scientific method refers to the use of investigative methods that are:
- objective
-systematic
-replicable

Question 17

what is the definition of objective?

Answer 17

basing findings on facts, rather than opinion

Question 18

what is the definition of subjective?

Answer 18

basing findings on opinion, rather than fact

Question 19

STRENGTHS of the scientific method?
(evaluation)

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

LIMITATIONS of the scientific method?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

who rejects the behaviourist approach?

Answer 21

Rogers and Maslow develop the humanist approach - they emphasise the importance of self determination and free will.

Question 22

What is the cognitive approach (1950) ?

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

STRENGTHS of the cognitive approach?

Answer 23

• advances in technology allowed scientific predictions to be tested.
  -technology allowed scientists to link the mind to a computer and analyse deeply.

Question 24

What is the Biological approach (1980) ?

Answer 24

the influence of genes, biological structures and neurochemistry on
behaviour. Genotype and phenotype, genetic basis of behaviour, evolution and behaviour.

Question 25

STRENGTH of biological approach?

Answer 25

-advances in technology allowed psychologists to know how the brain processes.