Psychology

Question 1

Define psychology as a scientific discipline.

Answer 1

Psychology studies human behavior and how the mind works. Some psychologists pursue scientific psychology, while others focus on applied psychology. Psychology correlates human behavior and can make use of this data to predict behavior or determine why a particular behavior has occurred. Psychologists also help work with people who have specific problems with relationships or with how they perceive the world. By observing patterns and recording them in detail, psychologists can apply these patterns to predictions about human behavior in individuals, groups, cultures, and even countries.

Question 2

Discuss the importance of Aristotle to the science of psychology.

Answer 2

Aristotle is often cited as founding the science of psychology through his overall interest in the working of the human mind. His beliefs stated that the mind was part of the body, while the psyche functioned as a receiver of knowledge. He felt psychology’s major focus was to uncover the soul. Later philosophers and scientists built on these ideas to eventually develop the modern science of psychology.

Question 3

Johannes P. Muller and Hermann L.F. von Hemholtz contribution to psychology

Answer 3

Both German German, conducted scientific, organized studies of SENSATION AND PERCEPTION. As the first psychologists to attempt this kind of study, they showed that it was possible to study actual physical processes that work to produce mental activity.

Question 4

William James contribution to psychology

Answer 4

Father of American Psychology. Founded the world’s first psychology laboratory In collaboration with William Wundt he helped bring psychology into its own, separating it from philosophy.

The method of of psychological study called introspection grew out of their work.

He taught the first psychology course in the US at harvard University in 1875

Question 5

William Wundt contribution to psychology

Answer 5

German. Published the first experimental psychology journal. In 1879 at the University of Leipzing in collaboration with William James he helped bring psychology into its own, separating it from philosophy.

The method of of psychological study called introspection grew out of their work.

Question 6

Outline the significance and contributions of Sigmund Freud.

Answer 6

An Austrian doctor, Freud developed a number of theories regarding human mental processes and behavior. He believed the subconscious to hold numerous repressed experiences and feelings that drove behavior without the individual being aware of it, and that these subconscious motivators could lead to severe personality problems and disorders. He particularly stressed sexual desire as a motivating force. He developed the method of psychoanalysis to help discover the hidden impulses driving individual behavior.

Question 7

What are the components of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory

Answer 7

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory proposed three major components to an individual’s psychological makeup:
· Id — driven by instinct and basic drives.

· Ego — most conscious and producing self-awareness.

· Superego — strives for perfection and appropriate behavior.

The ego acts as mediator between the id and superego, which function in opposition to each other.

Question 8

Outline the major theories developed by Carl Jung.

Answer 8

A student of Freud, Jung eventually developed different theories regarding the workings of the human mind. With an intense interest in both Eastern and Western philosophy, he incorporated ideas from both into his psychological explorations. He developed the theories of extroversion and introversion, as well as proposing the existence of the collective unconscious and the occurrence of synchronicity.

Question 9

Discuss the work of Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner.

Answer 9

Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner both built on the theories of John B. Watson, who developed the idea of behaviorism. This work came about largely as a counter to the growing importance of introspective techniques to psychological study.

Believing environment strongly influenced individual behavior, Pavlov and Skinner searched for connections between outside stimuli and behavioral patterns. Pavlov’s experiments proved the existence of conditioned response. His most famous experiment conditioned dogs to salivate at the sound of a ringing bell. Skinner went on to build further on these ideas, developing the

“Skinner Box,”a device used to develop and study conditioned response in rats.

Question 10

Define Gestalt psychology,

Answer 10

Gestalt psychology is a theory developed by Max Wertheimer. In Gestalt theory, events are not considered individually, but as part of a larger pattern.

Question 11

Define Social Psychology

Answer 11

Social psychology is the study of how social conditions affect individuals.

Question 12

Define Modern Psychology

Answer 12

Modern psychology, as it has developed, combines earlier schools of psychology, including Freudian, Jungian, behaviorism, cognitive, humanistic and stimulus-response theories.

Question 13

Define the concept of nativism and discuss the philosopher who developed it.

Answer 13

Nativism is a theory that states that there is a certain body of knowledge all people are born with. This knowledge requires no learning or experience on the part of the individual. Rene Descartes, a French philosopher, developed this concept. He believed the body and mind affected each other profoundly, largely because they are separate from each other. The physical site of this interaction took place in the pineal gland according to his theory. The pineal gland is a small gland in the brain. Descartes developed several theories in the field of philosophy and psychology that are still studied in modern universities.

Question 14

Explain empiricism and discuss its major proponents.

Answer 14

Management – Psychology Empiricism was in direct opposition to Descartes’theory of nativism. Nativism states that people are born with a certain body of knowledge that they do not have to learn. Empiricism theorizes that all knowledge is acquired through life experience, impressing itself on a mind and brain that are blank at the time of birth. Major proponents of empiricism were Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, David Hume and George Berkeley.

Question 15

Define behaviorism and discuss its implications.

Answer 15

John B. Watson, an American, developed the idea of behaviorism. In his theory, growth, learning and training would always win out over any possible inborn tendencies. He believed that any person, regardless of origin, could learn to perform any type of art, craft or enterprise with sufficient training and experience.

Question 16

List the major divisions of the human lifespan used by psychologists to classify behavior and growth.

Answer 16

Development psychologists divide the human lifespan into stages, and list certain developmental milestones that generally take place during these stages.

Infancy and childhood—the most rapid period of human development during which, the child learns to experience its world, relate to other people, and perform tasks necessary to function in its native culture. Debate exists as to what characteristics are inborn and what are learned.

Adolescence—this period represents the shift from child to adult. Changes are rapid and can involve major physical and emotional shifts.

Adulthood— individuals take on new responsibilities, become self-sufficient, and often form their own families and other social networks.

Old age—priorities shift again as children become adults and no longer require support and supervision.

Question 17

List and discuss the three major types of learning identified and studied by psychologists.

Answer 17

Psychologists define learning as a permanent change in behavior. They divide types of learning into three basic categories, depending upon on how the behavioral change is acquired.

1. Classical conditioning—a learning process in which a specific stimulus is associated with a specific response over time.
2. Operant conditioning—a learning process in which behavior is punished or rewarded, leading to a desired long-term behavior.
3. Social learning—learning based on observation of others and modeling others’ behavior.

These three learning processes work together to produce the wide variety of human behavior.

Question 18

List the major factors involved in social psychology and how they affect various groups of people.

Answer 18

Social psychology studies the ways in which people interact as well as why and how they decide who to interact with. The ways people react with each other are defined in several ways, including:
- Social perception—how we perceive others and their behavior as we make judgments based on our own experiences and prejudices.

• Personal relationships—close relationships developed among people for various reasons, including the desire to reproduce and form a family unit.
• Group behavior—people gather into groups with similar beliefs, needs, or other characteristics. Sometimes group behavior differs greatly from behavior that would be practiced by individuals alone.
• Attitudes—individual attitudes toward others develop over time based on individual history, experience, knowledge, and other factors. Attitudes can change over time, but some are deeply ingrained and can lead to prejudice.