week 1-2. Introduction to the Evolution of Psychology Flashcards
What is psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, mental processes, and behavior.
What does the term ‘psyche’ mean?
‘Psyche’ means soul or mind.
When was the first evidence of mental illness found?
Around 9000 BCE.
What contributions did ancient African shamans make to psychology?
They treated abnormal behavior, including spirit possession.
Who introduced the four-step diagnostic process in China?
Bian Que (500 BCE).
Who introduced a scientific method to Western medicine?
Hippocrates (400 BCE).
Who introduced the concept of psychotherapy?
Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi (Razes).
Who founded the first psychology laboratory?
Wilhelm Wundt in 1879 (Leipzig, Germany).
What is structuralism?
A school of thought that analyzes consciousness into its basic elements.
What is functionalism?
A school of thought that studies the purpose of consciousness.
Who is the father of psychoanalysis?
Sigmund Freud.
What is the id, ego, and superego?
Freud’s model of personality, explaining unconscious desires, rational thought, and morality.
Who developed behaviorism?
John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner.
What is operant conditioning?
A learning process where behavior is shaped by rewards and punishments (Skinner).
What is humanistic psychology?
A perspective that emphasizes free will and personal growth (Rogers & Maslow).
When was the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) founded?
1994.
