Week 5 Flashcards
How has positivism informed the philosophy of science?
Positivism suggests that the only knowledge is valid is that that can be scientifically verified
How has logical positivism informed the philosophy of science?
Logical positivism suggests that the only meaningful philosophical questions are those that can be solved through logic
How has operationalism informed the philosophy of science?
Operationalism allows us to measure and draw inferences about phenomena that are unobservable at face value
What are Comte’s three stages of social development?
- Theological
- Metaphysical
- Positivist
Describe the theological phase
Society references religion, belief in supernatural power and faith in the wisdom of ancestors
Describe the metaphysical phase
Society is not longer bound by religion. Justification of human rights, questioning of current social order
Describe the positivist phase
Social problems are solved through rational thought and empirical observation
How did Sechenov explain mental phenomena?
- mind drives everything, but we need to focus on how this becomes observable behaviour
- there is little to no role in heredity
How did Pavlov contribute to behaviourism?
- personality theory based on predisposition towards cortical excitation and inhibition
- experimental neurosis
- gut bacteria
- conditioning
How did Teplov contribute to behaviourism?
- continued Pavlov’s legacy of conditioning and personality
- research into individual differences
What were Watson’s main contributions to psychology?
- quantification and standardisation
- psychometric testing
- habit
- conditioned emotional reactions
- behavioural therapy
- emotions undifferentiated responses: fear, love, rage
What were Watson’s criticisms?
- poorly controlled Lil Albert experiment
- affair with Rosalie Rayner
What were Sechenov’s four contributions to psychology?
- thoughts do not cause behaviour, they arise from behaviour
- external environmental stimuli causes all behaviour
- thought only apparently precedes behaviour
- thought is an epiphenomenon (side effect) of interaction between stimuli and behaviour
What was Pavlov’s experimental neurosis?
Stress producing situations result in ultra maximal inhibition (inhibiting responses and cortical activity beyond what is optimal to function)
Describe ultra maximal inhibition
inhibiting responses and cortical activity beyond what is optimal to function
Describe the equivalent phase
Dog responds with the same amount of saliva regardless of stimulus strength
Describe the paradoxical phase
Strong stimulus produces weak response, and vice versa
Describe the ultra paradoxical phase
Stimuli that once produced a positive response, now produce a negative response, and vice versa
What were Sechenov’s four main views?
- Thoughts don’t cause behaviour. They arise from the environment.
- External stimuli causes all behaviour
- Thoughts only precede behaviour
- Thought is an epiphenomenon of the interaction between stimuli and behaviour
Describe psych according to Watson
- Divisions of consciousness are arbitrary
- Psych is too human centred
- Introspection is unreliable and esoteric
- Older psychologies are dualistic
What does Watson mean by ‘older psychologies are dualistic’?
If other sciences don’t concern themselves with mind body problem, why should psych?
