The Study of Consciousness Flashcards

1
Q

When was Franz Brentano alive?

A

1838-1917

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2
Q

What can Brentano be described as?

A

An empiricist

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3
Q

Which experimental technique did Brentano advocate for?

A

Introspection

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4
Q

Which two types of psychology did Brentano distinguish between?

A

Genetic - 3rd person point of view

Empirical or Descriptive - 1st person point of view

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5
Q

What did Brentano believe psychology is a science of?

A

Mental phenomena:

  • Exclusive object of inner perception
  • Always appear as a unity
  • Always internally directed towards an object
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6
Q

Brentano argued that ‘what is in the mind’ is less important than what?

A

What the mind does - experience as activity not structure

Colour is not a mental phenomenon - seeing is mental

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7
Q

What are the three key mental activities of Brentano’s ‘Act Psychology’?

A

Recall - having an idea of an object
Judging - affirming or denying the object
Feeling - developing an attitude to the object

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8
Q

Why is the mind ordered in its behaviour according to Brentano?

A

Because the world is ordered, not because of the weight of associations or the imposition of structure by the mind

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9
Q

What is intentionality?

A

The characteristic of consciousness whereby it is conscious of something

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10
Q

Who were the founders of Gestalt psychology?

A

Max Wertheimer
Wolfgang Kohler
Kurt Koffka

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11
Q

What is the Bundle Hypothesis and how was it critiqued by Gestalt psychology?

A

Bundle hypothesis = the objects of consciousness are made up of fixed, atomic element i.e. an object is a collection of its properties
Gestalt = whole different to sum of parts

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12
Q

What is the Constancy Hypothesis and how was it critiqued by Gestalt psychology?

A

Constancy hypothesis = each conscious sensory object corresponds directly to a physical stimulus’ impact on a sensory organ
Gestalt = percepts are not immutable correlates of local physical stimuli that give rise to them but reflect specific interactive relational aspects of a simulus complex

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13
Q

What is the Phi Phenomenon?

A

Optical illusion: still image which appears to be in motion

Gestalt argue motion is real in experience but does not correspond to physical moving stimulus

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14
Q

What is the Law of Pragnanz?

A

The perception of reality is organised or reduced to its simplest form

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15
Q

When was Sigmund Freud alive?

A

1856-1939

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16
Q

What book is described as the most intriguing book about Freud and Freudian psychoanalysis? And what does it demonstrate?

A

Freud, biologist of the mind: beyond the psychoanalytic legend - Frank J. Sulloway
How Freudian psychology was influenced by changing world view that followed the Darwinian revolution and the impact of physical theories of dynamics

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17
Q

What is the historical perspective on hysteria?

A

Only suffered by women - caused by irritation of female sexual organs or mere play acting

18
Q

What was Charcot’s view on hysteria?

A

Only accepted mechanistic physical explanations
Argued that it is a hereditary neurological disease
Occurs in men and women

19
Q

Who is considered the Grandfather of Psychoanalysis?

A

Josef Breuer

20
Q

What did Breuer conclude from the case of Anna O?

A

Neurotic symptoms result from unconscious processes and will disappear when these processes become conscious

21
Q

What is it that causes problems leading to hysteria?

A

Negative emotional content of unconscious memories that have been repressed

22
Q

What is abreaction?

A

The process by which represses memories emotional force is released

23
Q

What theory of hysteria did Freud propose?

A

The Seduction Theory of hysteria - repressed memories usually associated with sexual trauma

24
Q

Why was the seduction theory retracted within a year?

A

Therapeutic failure
Implausible frequency of child sexual abuse
Unconscious does not know difference between reality and fantasy
Reports do not emerge in delirium when all repressive defenses break down

25
Q

How was the seduction theory criticised?

A

Never provided clinical evidence

Some historians believe that the patients were ‘persuaded’ of early sexual abuse

26
Q

What do all dreams represent?

A

The fulfillment of wishes

Dreams are only a partial expression of the wish

27
Q

When is the latent content of a dream allowed to appear?

A

Only if it is disguised as manifest content

28
Q

How does the manifest content of the dream express latent content?

A

Through Freudian symbols

29
Q

What is dreamwork?

A

Process by which underlying wish is translated into manifest contest in order to be processes without inducing anxiety…

30
Q

What is the oedipus complex?

A

Boy desires mother and death of father

Castration anxiety then leads to identifying with father

31
Q

What is the electra complex?

A

Girl desires mother

Penis envy - rejects mother and transfers desire to father

32
Q

What are the three parts of the psyche according to Freud?

A

Id, ego, superego

33
Q

What is the id?

A

Present from birth, follows pleasure principle
Primitive desires/instincts - sex, hunger, thirst
Unconscious

34
Q

What is the ego?

A

Functions according to reality principle
Develops of function of id’s inability to function efficaciously in external world
Operates at unconscious, preconscious and conscious levels

35
Q

What is the superego?

A

Moral component of mind
Incorporates both parental and societal structures about correct behaviour
Controls ego through punishment and reward

36
Q

What did Freud believe the largest part of the mind? was?

A

Unconscious

37
Q

What did Freud believe about mental processes?

A

They are unconscious - only certain individual acts and portions are conscious

38
Q

What are parapraxes?

A

Slips of action/the tongue/writing

39
Q

What is the method of free association?

A

Patient invited to say whatever comes to mind

40
Q

Criticisms of Freud

A

Not scientific
Not enough evidence
Very hard to test empirically
Prejudiced and discriminative against women

41
Q

Praise for Freud

A

Gave rise to new theories and therapy approaches
Emphasised importance of early experiences in later development
Raised awareness regrding sexual abuse
Revolutionised psychology