Theoretical Framework

Question 0

Criticism and contribution of structuralism

Answer 0

Criticism
1) lack of consensus -> science depends on the ability to duplicate findings
2) “imageless thought” -> some important aspects of human psychology lie outside of conscious awareness (exp. calculating)
Contribution
-importance of systematic observation
-major step in becoming a science

Question 1

Structuralism

Answer 1

-key player: E.B. Titchener
AIMED TO IDENTIFY THE BASIC ELEMENTS OR “STRUCTURES” OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES
-a kind of human thought “periodic table”
-used INTROSPECTION to identify 44,400 sensations: 32,800 related to vision; 11,600 to hearing … All got a bit out of control

Question 2

Functionalism

Answer 2

-key player: W. James
AIMED TO UNDERSTAND THE ADAPTIVE PURPOSE OF FUNCTIONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS THOUGHTS FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOURS
-“Why” do we have the emotion we have and how does it serve in ensuring the survival of humans
-influenced by the theory of “natural selection” (charles darwin) -> characteristics survived because they were useful

Question 3

criticism and contribution of functionalism

Answer 3

• doesn’t exist in its original form today
• increasing number of psychologists are attempting to use this theory to understand the nature of romantic attraction, jealousy, anger etc.
• > theory has been absorbed into “evolutionary Psychology” (behaviours or traits that occur universally in all cultures have adaptive purpose

Question 4

Behaviourism

Answer 4

-key Players: Pavlov, JB Watson; later Skinner
A THEORY IF LEARNING BASED UPON THE IDEA THAT ALL BEHAVIOURS ARE ACQUIRED THROUG CONDITIONING
Skinner: thoughts and feelings are behaviour -> product if reward and punishment in the environment
-conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment
-behaviour can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states
-comprehend human behaviour exclusively by looking “outside” the organism
-doesn’t matter what happens between the “inputs” and “outputs”
-human mind = black box

Question 5

Pavlov dogs

Answer 5

-> classical conditioning
BEHAVIOURISM
1) before conditioning
unconditioned stimulation -> unconditioned response
2) before conditioning
Neutral stimulation -> no conditioned response
3) during condition
unconditioned stimulation + neutral stimulation -> unconditioned response
4) after conditioning
conditioned stimulation -> conditioned response

Exp. food + tuning fork and dog

Question 6

Little Albert experiment

Answer 6

-Watson wanted to proof the classical conditioning on human (Albert was used to be conditioned)
-showed a. things he is not afraid of
-CONDITIONING: when Albert tried to each the things (a loud noise came up)
-from the previous experience with the rat A. became suddenly afraid of familiar objects which had the same characteristics as the white rat
=> Generalization
-phobias are most likely conditional responses

Question 7

Cognitivism

Answer 7

-key players: J. Piaget; U. Neisser
OUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS MATTER AND IN TURN INFLUENCE OUR BEHAVIOUR
-how we interpret a situation/action (i.e. reward and punishment) will influence our evaluation of the situation/action and our perception of it being internalised as a reward/punishment
-enormously influential today
-examine the connection between inputs and outputs
-established strong linkage to the study of brain functioning

Question 8

Psychoanalysis

Answer 8

• key player: Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
• he focused on internal psychological processes, especially impulses, thoughts and memories (which they were unaware)
• major premise: BEHAVIOUR IS PRIMARILY INFLUENCED BY OUR UNCONSCIOUS THOUGHTS (e.g. sexuality and aggression)
• espoused personality is moulded in the first few years of life
• goals are to decode the symbolic meaning of our slips, dreams and psychological symptoms