PAPER 2 - APPROACHES - origins of psychology

Question 1

what is empiricism?

Answer 1

a belief that knowledge is gained through experience, identified by scientific method

Question 2

what is introspection?

Answer 2

the process of a person gaining knowledge about their own mental and emotional states

Question 3

what is scientific method?

Answer 3

refers to the use of investigation methods that are objective, systematic and replicable

Question 4

what is structuralism?

Answer 4

the break down of behaviour into its basic elements

Question 5

what was Wundt’s belief about the study of the human mind?

Answer 5

that it could be studied scientifically

Question 6

why was Wundt’s approach referred to as structuralism?

Answer 6

he aimed to study the structure of the minds behaviour by breaking it down into basic elements

Question 7

why did Wundt’s belief about experimental study change?

Answer 7

he believed all aspects of the human experience could be investigated experimentally but then found that higher mental processes couldn’t be studied in a strict control manner

Question 8

how did Wundt formulate general theories of human perception?

Answer 8

using introspection - he trained their mental processes (observed their view)

Question 9

what 2 assumptions is the scientific approach based on?

Answer 9

• all behaviour has a cause (determinism)
• therefore possible to predict behaviour in different conditions

Question 10

what does the term ‘objective’ mean?

Answer 10

researchers do not let ideas or biases influence the collection of their data

Question 11

what does the term ‘systematic’ mean?

Answer 11

observations and experiments are carried out in an orderly way

Question 12

what does the term ‘replicable’ mean?

Answer 12

observations can be repeated by other researchers to determine whether the same results are obtained (RELIABLE)

Question 13

what should be done to complete the cycle of scientific method?

Answer 13

constant testing and refining of scientific theories

Question 14

what is meant by the criticism that Wundt’s results were not reliably produced by other researchers?

Answer 14

• approach relied mainly on non-observable responses
• approach failed due to lack of reliability & reproducability
• inconsistency of results - other researchers got different results

Question 15

how does Nisbett & Wilson’s findings challenge the introspective reports?

Answer 15

• claim we have very little knowledge of causes & processes underlying our behaviour/attitudes
• attitudes are out of conscious awareness, self reports of introspection wouldn’t uncover them (cant report it)

Question 16

what are some strengths of a scientific approach to psychology?

Answer 16

• lab experiments (artificial, highly controlled)
• control over variables
• can establish cause and effect
• introspection is still relevant

Question 17

what are some limitations of a scientific approach to psychology?

Answer 17

• not always appropriate - not all psychologists share views that human behaviour can be studied by scientific method
• introspection not always accurate
• must be carried out in controlled environment so cant generalise results - low ecological validity

Question 18

how has the introspective technique been used more recently?

Answer 18

Hunter (and Csikszentmihayli) used introspective methods as a way of making happiness a measurable phenomenon

Question 19

what was the study of Hunter and Csikszentmihayli?

Answer 19

gave a group of teenagers beepers that went off at random points during the day - needed to write down their thoughts at these times

Question 20

what did Hunter and Csikszentmihayli find?

Answer 20

teens were more unhappy than happy but when their energies focused, they had more upbeat thoughts

Question 21

how is the study by Hunter and Csikszentmihayli a strength for introspection?

Answer 21

introspection offers researchers a way of understanding more clearly the momentary conditions that affect happiness - helps improve quality of lives