The Origins of Psychology

Question 1

What are Descartes and Dualism?

Answer 1

Descartes suggested the idea of dualism - the mind and the body are separate but interact to create thoughts and behaviours. This is foundation of nature vs nurture

Question 2

What is Psychology?

Answer 2

The scientific study of behaviour and mental processes and how they are influenced by internal (biology) and external factors (environment)

Question 3

What is Science?

Answer 3

A method of gaining knowledge by following a systematic process based on evidence. (theory, hypothesis ,Replicability)

Question 4

What is Wundt and Introspection?

Answer 4

1879 Wundt opened first psychology lab and used introspection examining own thoughts and feelings

Question 5

What is introspection?

Answer 5

A method to study mental processes by focusing on what someone is thinking or feeling.

Question 6

What is structuralism?

Answer 6

Wundt broke conscious thoughts into basic elements like thoughts ,sensations and images

Question 7

What did Skinner and Watson do?

Answer 7

Criticised introspection for being too subjective

Question 8

What is Skinner’s behaviouralism

Answer 8

He argued that behaviours could be objectively measured even private thoughts. lab experiments became the main method.This made psychology more scientific

Question 9

What are further developments in psychology Cognitive Approach?

Answer 9

the invention of computer gave psychologists a way to study the mind. Output and Input. Mental processes like problem solving

Question 10

What are further developments in SLT psychology?

Answer 10

Bandura built on behaviourist ideas but applied to social context. He says people learn behaviour observing and imitating others

Question 11

Biological Approach developments in society?

Answer 11

Advances in technology (e.g brain scans) allowed psychologists to study biological basis of behaviour in a way