Origins of psychology

• What is a simple 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 science?

  Before psychology became a science, the focus was on philosophy and medicine.
• 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 is the significance of Wilhelm Wundt's work in psychology?

  • Established psychology as an independent field of scientific research.
  • Opened the world's first psychological laboratory in the 1870s.
  • Produced one of the first books on psychology and the first academic journal for psychological experiments.
• What is the approach to research called that Wundt used?

  Wundt's approach to research was called structuralism.
• What was Wundt particularly interested in studying?

  Wundt was particularly interested in the structure of sensation and perception.
• What method did Wundt use in his research?

  Wundt used introspection in his research.
• How did Wundt control his studies?

  Wundt controlled the experimental conditions and the environment of his studies.
• What does making inferences mean in Wundt's research?

  Making inferences means making educated guesses about internal mental processes based on behavior.
• What is a criticism of Wundt's introspective methods?

  A criticism is that participants may not accurately report their own mental states.
• What issue arises from the subjective nature of introspection?

  The issue is that self-reports may be biased or mistaken.
• What did behaviorists focus on in their research?

  Behaviorists focused only on observable stimulus-response mechanisms.
• What is the relationship between biological psychology and medicine?

  Biological psychology has its roots in medicine and studies the brain's link to behavior.
• What did cognitive psychologists study?

  Cognitive psychologists study internal mental states through tasks under experimental conditions.
• What are the key components of the scientific method in psychology?

  • Systematic observation
  • Controlled experimentation
  • Objectivity and lack of bias
  • Empirical methods for data collection
• What are the main psychological approaches introduced in the timeline of psychology?

  1. Structuralism (Wundt)
  2. Psychodynamics (Freud)
  3. Behaviorism (Pavlov and Skinner)
  4. Social Learning Theory
  5. Humanism
  6. Cognitive Psychology
  7. Biological Psychology
• Who developed the psychodynamic approach to understanding the mind?

  Sigmund Freud developed the psychodynamic approach.
• What did Freud argue about the unconscious mind?

  Freud argued that there are processes that direct our behavior that we are unaware of.
• What did behaviorists reject in their study of psychology?

  Behaviorists rejected introspection and the study of internal mental processes.
• What is the main focus of social learning theorists?

  Social learning theorists focus on how humans learn from observing others.
• What do humanists believe about human behavior?

  Humanists believe that humans have free will in deciding how to act.
• How do cognitive psychologists view the mind?

  Cognitive psychologists view the mind as similar to a computer.
• What tools have allowed psychologists to study the active brain?

  Tools like fMRI scanners have allowed psychologists to study the active brain.
• What is the importance of learning psychological terminology?

  • Essential for effective writing in psychology.
  • Helps in understanding complex concepts.
  • Aids in communication of ideas in essays.