Psychology: Past, Present, Future

Question 1

470-320 BC?

Answer 1

Greek Philosophers first conceptualise psychology

Aristotle, Socrates through to Descartes, Hobbes, Locke (early empiricist).

Discussed topics: free will be determinism, mind/body problem/mind body dualism

Question 2

1500-1700 AD

Answer 2

Descartes, Hobbes and Locke
Same as 470-320 BC

Question 3

1500-1700 AD

Answer 3

Descartes, Hobbes and Locke
Same as 470-320 BC

Question 4

1800-1900

Answer 4

Darwin, first lab, Freud , APA founded

Theory of Evolution
Comparative psychology (animals vs humans)
1879 - Wilhelm Wundt first psych lab
Structuralism (breaking mind into basic components)
Functionalism (examine functions, rather than components (William James))

Freud
Psychodynamics
Emphasises unconscious processes and personality
Psychoanalysis
Modern - move from childhood sex drives to focus on childhood experiences/ early relationships (e.g attachment Bowlby, Ainsworth)

Question 5

20th Century

Answer 5

1900-1940
First intelligence test, early theories of social, developmental and personality emerge
1940-1960
First theories of cognition, moral development, behaviourism
1960-2000
Famous experiments (Stanford prison study, Milgram shock) behaviourism, start of neuroscience

Psych shifted from internal processes to external observable behaviours

Behaviourism (external factors effect on behaviour)
Pavlov : classical conditioning
Watson: observable behaviour
Skinner; operant conditioning move towards cognitive behaviourism (thoughts impact behaviour not just external factors)
Bandura: social cognitive theory

Humanism free will, growth and meaning
Maslow: hierarchy of needs
Positive psych what’s going well instead of medical fixing approach

Cognitive neuroscience developed
Roger’s: person centred approach
Q

Question 6

Sociocultural - moving beyond the self

Answer 6

Introduced in the 20th century
Distinguishes between macro influences and micro influences
Macro influences: culture, social norms, group processes
Micro influences: the influence of individuals like family, friends, romantic partners

Question 7

Biopsychosocial Model

Answer 7

Recognises that cognitions and behaviour might best be explained by the interaction of biology (genes/nuerotransmitters) and psychology (optimism/pessimism, rejection sensitivity and neuroticism) and social (identity, prior experience, social support) factors

Question 8

Psych today

Answer 8

The scientific study of behaviour and cognition