week 1 science of psychology Flashcards
(48 cards)
What philosophical traditions influenced early psychology?
Aristotle, Plato, and Descartes initiated interest in psychology
What concept did Rene Descartes propose regarding the mind and body?
Dualism
what is dualism?
the separation of mind and body.
What is Descartes’ famous hypothetical concept about skepticism and perception?
The “Malevolent Demon” and the “Brain in the Vat.”
Who is considered the founder of structuralism?
Wilhelm Wundt
what is structuralisms main method
introspection
what is functionalism and who founded it
studies how organisms adapt - William James
which evolutionary theory influenced functionalism
Darwins theory of evolution
introspection
breaking down consciousness into its component parts
when was Wundts first lab experiment
1879
what book did William James write
principles of psychology
what is behaviorism
scientific study of observable behavior, ignoring the “mind” as a black box.
Name three key figures in behaviorism.
Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner.
what is classical conditioning
Learning through associations
key figures in classical conditioning studies
pavlov and watson
what is operant conditioning
Behavior shaped by reinforcement and punishment
main researcher into operant conditioning
skinner
What is cognitive psychology’s main focus?
The scientific study of mental processes.
What movement brought rigorous control to the study of mental processes?
cognitive revolution
key figures in humanistic psych
rogers and Maslow
main idea behind humanism
emphasis on free will, personal goals and self-actualisation
why is the humanistic approach not deterministic
gives free will
What does psychodynamic psychology emphasize?
Unconscious forces shaping personality and behavior, founded by Freud and Jung.
What are the three components of personality according to Freud?
Id, Ego, and Superego.