Origins of Psychology

• What is the definition of psychology?

  Psychology is the scientific study of the brain and behavior.
• How long has psychology been a field of science?

  Psychology has been a field of science for around 150 years.
• What was the focus of study before psychology became a scientific discipline?

  Before psychology, the focus was on behavior from a philosophical and medical perspective.
• Who is considered the first person to study behavior using scientific techniques?

  Wilhelm Wundt is considered the first person to study behavior using scientific techniques.
• What did Wundt establish in the 1870s?

  Wundt established the world's first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany.
• What is structuralism in psychology?

  Structuralism is describing the mind in terms of its simplest definable components.
• What method did Wundt use in his research?

  Wundt used introspection, where participants reported their conscious experiences.
• How did Wundt control his studies?

  Wundt controlled the experimental conditions and the environment of the studies.
• What is an inference in the context of Wundt's research?


  An inference is a guess or assumption about internal mental processes based on observed behavior.
• How can researchers make inferences about mental processes?

  Researchers can make inferences by observing patterns of behavior in experiments.
• What is a criticism of Wundt's introspective methods?

  A criticism is that participants may not accurately report their own mental states.
• What did behaviorists focus on in psychology?

  Behaviorists focused on observable stimulus-response mechanisms, ignoring internal mental states.
• Who were two key figures in behaviorism?

  John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner were key figures in behaviorism.
• What is the main idea of social learning theory?

  Social learning theory posits that people learn from observing others, not just through direct experiences.
• What do humanists argue about human behavior?

  Humanists argue that humans have free will and that behavior cannot be reduced to simple causes.
• How do cognitive psychologists view the mind?

  Cognitive psychologists view the mind as similar to a computer, processing inputs and outputs.
• What has biological psychology's roots in?

  Biological psychology has its roots in medicine.
• What tools have allowed psychologists to study the active brain?

  Tools like fMRI scanners have allowed psychologists to study the active brain.
• What are the key approaches in psychology that will be covered in the unit?

  • Experimental Psychology (Wundt)
  • Psychodynamics (Freud)
  • Behaviorism (Watson, Skinner)
  • Social Learning Theory
  • Humanistic Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Biological Psychology
• What is the purpose of the Psych Boost app mentioned in the video?


  The Psych Boost app offers free features like flashcards and quizzes for studying psychology.
• Why is it important to learn psychological terminology?

  Learning psychological terminology is important for effective communication and writing in psychology.
• What is the significance of the key term list mentioned in the video?

  A key term list helps students keep track of important psychological terms and their definitions.
• What is the role of empirical methods in defining science?

  Empirical methods involve systematic observation and experimentation to understand the natural world.
• What does objectivity in research mean?

  Objectivity means that research design, results, and conclusions are not influenced by personal opinions.
• Why is following the scientific method important in psychology?

  Following the scientific method is important to ensure the trustworthiness of psychological study results.
• What is the main criticism of Wundt's introspective methods?

  The main criticism is that participants may provide biased or inaccurate self-reports.
• How did Wundt's work influence later psychologists?


  Wundt's work inspired later psychologists to adopt controlled methods in studying the mind.
• What is the significance of the timeline of psychology mentioned in the video?

  The timeline provides an overview of the development of various psychological approaches over 250 years.
• What did Freud contribute to psychology?

  Freud developed the psychodynamic approach and introduced the concept of the unconscious mind.
• What is the main focus of behaviorism?

  Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and the relationship between stimuli and responses.
• What do social learning theorists emphasize in their approach?

  Social learning theorists emphasize the importance of observing and imitating others in learning.
• How do humanists view the concept of free will?


  Humanists believe that humans have free will in deciding how to act.
• What analogy do cognitive psychologists use to explain the mind?

  Cognitive psychologists compare the mind to a computer, processing inputs and outputs.
• What advancements have allowed for the study of the active brain?

  Advancements like fMRI scanners have allowed for the study of the active brain.
• What is the significance of the biological approach in psychology?

  The biological approach is significant as it links psychology to medicine and studies the brain's role in behavior.