origins of psychology Flashcards
Who is Wilhelm Wundt?
The ‘Father of Psychology’
Distinguished psychology as a science and the first psychologist.
1879 he opened the first lab dedicated to psychological enquiry at the Uni of Leipzig (Institute of Experimental Psychology).
What was Wundt’s aim?
To analyse the nature of human consciousness.
What is introspection?
Means looking into. Examination of ones thoughts. Wundt recorded their experiences of various stimuli they were presented with and divided observations into 3 categories- thoughts, images and sensations.
the scientific method
Wundt recorded introspections under strict controlled conditions. Used same stimulus each time.
Used same standardized instructions.
All above means replication is possible.
Isolating the structure of consciousness in this way is structuralism.
Evaluation of introspection
+ Scientific
systematic and well controlled
-Subjective data
Wundt relied of pps self reporting their mental processes.
Pps may have hidden or lied about their thoughts.
Data wouldn’t be useful to predict future behavior.
+Modern psychology
1. The aim of psychology as a science is to describe, understand, predict and control behavior.
The learning approaches all rely on scientific methods.
-Subjective data
1. Not all approaches use scientific methods such as psychodynamic approach makes use of case study method.
2. Issue of demand characteristics
3. Scientific approach to the study of human thought and experience may not always be possible.
Assumptions of behaviorist approach
- Critical of introspection and psychodynamics
- More scientific approach as only observable phenomena should be studied. Behavior can be observed and measured in an unbiased way using lab experiments so can be controlled.
- All behavior is learned from experience as all humans are born with a blank slate.
- Animal research is valid as they share the same principles of learning as humans.
Pavlov (1927)
Russian Psychologist who was investigating salivation in dogs.
- Pavlov presented the food (unconditioned stimulus) to the dog which stimulated salivation (unconditioned response).
- He introduced a bell sound (neutral stimulus)
Aim of Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment on Social Learning
Bandura conducted a controlled experiment to investigate if social behaviours ie aggression can be acquired by observation and imitation.
Sample of Bobo Doll experiment
36 boys and 36 girls from Stanford Uni nursery school aged 3 to 6 years old. Researches pre-tested children’s aggression levels to match them into groups with similar levels of aggression in their everyday behaviour.
Procedure of Bobo Doll experiment
Lab experiment which the independent variable (type of model) was manipulated in 3 ways:
1. Aggressive model shown to 24 children
2. Non- aggressive model shown to 24 children
3. No model shown in control children to 24 children
Stage 1 Modelling
Stage 2 Agression Arousal
Stage 3 Test for delayed imitation
What was Stage 1 Modelling?
Children individually shown into a room containing toys and played with potato prints while they watched a model act with a Bobo Doll (if any) in the manner depending what group they were in.
Stage 2 Aggression Arousal
All children were subjected to “mild aggression arousal”. Each child was separately taken into a room with attractive toys. As soon as they started to play with the toys the experimenter told them these were the best toys and reserved for other children.
Stage 3 Test for delayed imitation
The next room contained aggressive toys eg mallet, bobo doll and some non-aggressive toys eg crayons.
Child was in room for 20 mins and their behaviour was observed and rated at 5 sec intervals using a one way mirror.
Results of the Bobo Doll experiment
Children who observed the more aggressive model made for more imitative aggressive responses.
More partial and non-imitative aggression among those who had observed aggressive behaviour.
Girls in the aggressive model condition showed more physically aggressive responses if the doll was male but more verbally aggressive responses if the girl was female.
Boys imitated more physically aggressive acts than girls.
Conclusion of the Bobo Doll experiment
Children are more able to learn social behaviour through observation learning. Shows effect of media violence on children.
Evaluation of SLT
+Application from real life and culture
Can be used to change behaviours. In case of smoking, it has led to changes in legislation that led to the removal of smoking role models until watershed.
This decision was influenced by the fact that children learn behaviours by observing real life role models.
+Reciprocal determinism
We are not merely influenced by our external environment but we also exert and influence upon it, through behaviours we choose to perform. There is some free will in the way we behave.
-Biological factors
Bandura claimed natural biological differences influenced our learning potential but learning was determined by our environment HOWEVER diff research suggests there are more powerful genetic, evolutionary, neural and hormonal influences on aggression that SLT fails to explain
-Contrived lab studies
Bandura did most research in the lab which are criticised for their contrived nature where pps may respond to demand characteristics. Lacks ecological validity as was looking at aggression in an artificial setting.
When did the Cognitive approach emerge?
During the 1950s as part of the cognitive revolution.
What is the cognitive approach?
Development of the first computers gave cognitive psychologists a metaphor for describing mental processes. A scientific method. A study of mental processes.
Examples of mental processes
Memory
Language
Thinking
Problem solving
What are assumptions the cognitive approach makes?
Internal mental processes can be studied
Mental processes can involve schema
It is possible to make interferences about mental processes.
Input -> processing -> output
Input- from the environment via the senses
Processing- info is encoded and processed
Output- Observable behaviour
Humans process info coming in from the environment (input) and then we respond to it (output).
What are mental processes like?
Private and not a physical measure. Measured indirectly by making INFERENCES about what is going on inside people’s minds on the basis of behaviour.
What are inferences?
The process of drawing conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of the observed evidence.
What are schemas?
A mental framework which are developed by our experiences and allows quick processing of info
How do we create schemas?
Assimilation: Process of creating new schemas which happens as a child.
Accommodation: Changing or altering out existing schemas in light of new information.
Why are schemas useful?
Helps you to learn quickly and new info could be classified by comparing new experiences to existing schemas.
Why are schemas not useful?
Can be distorted.
Evaluation of the cognitive approach
+ Controlled lab experiment which allows researchers to study mental processes w precision. Isolate specific variables such as memory and draw clear cause and effect conclusions about cognitive processes, reducing the influence of external factors. Produces reliable, replicable data which strengthens the scientific basis of the approach.
-Oversimplifies human thought as humans are far more complex than computers. Human cognition is influenced by factors such as emotions and individual experiences making our thought processes more dynamic and flexible then computers. By reducing thought to structured, step-by-step thinking, cognitive theories miss these vital influences. Cognitive approach’s computer-like view limits ability to capture depth of human thought.
-Ignores individual differences but has ideas that can apply to many- nomothetic
