origins of psychology

• What is psychology defined as?

  The scientific study of the brain and behaviour
• Why is psychology considered one of the youngest fields of science?

  It started around 150 years ago
• Who is considered the first person to study behavior scientifically?

  Wilhelm Wundt
• What did Wundt establish in 1879?

  The world's first psychological laboratory in Leipzig Germany
• What is structuralism in psychology?

  Describing the mind's simplest components
• What method did Wundt use in his research?

  Introspection
• How did Wundt control his experimental conditions?

  By controlling the environment of the study
• What is the significance of making inferences in Wundt's research?

  It allows assumptions about mental processes
• What is a criticism of Wundt's introspective methods?

  Participants may provide biased self-reports
• What did behaviorists focus on in their research?

  Observable stimulus-response mechanisms
• How did behaviorists view the mind?

  As a black box
• What is the role of cognitive psychologists?

  To study internal mental processes scientifically
• What is the main idea behind cognitive psychology?

  The mind processes information like a computer
• What is the focus of biological psychology?

  The link between brain areas and abilities
• What technological advancement has aided biological psychology?

  fMRI scanners
• What are the key components of the scientific method in psychology?

  • Systematic observation
  • Controlled experimentation
  • Objectivity in research
  • Empirical data collection
• What are the main psychological approaches introduced in the timeline of psychology?

  1. Structuralism (Wundt)
  2. Psychodynamics (Freud)
  3. Behaviorism (Pavlov, Skinner)
  4. Social Learning Theory
  5. Humanism
  6. Cognitive Psychology
  7. Biological Psychology
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Wundt's methods?

  Strengths:

  • Established psychology as a science
  • Used controlled methods

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Subjective self-reports
  • Reliance on inferences
• How did the behaviorist approach differ from Wundt's structuralism?

  • Behaviorists focused on observable behavior
  • Wundt emphasized introspection and mental processes
• What is the significance of free will in humanistic psychology?

  • Humans can choose their actions
  • Focus on self-actualization and personal growth
• How do cognitive psychologists study mental processes?

  • Use theoretical models
  • Conduct experiments on task performance
• What is the relationship between biological psychology and medicine?

  • Biological psychology has roots in medicine
  • Studies brain function and behavior links
• What is psychology defined as?

  The scientific study of the brain and behavior
• Why is psychology considered one of the youngest fields of science?

  It started around 150 years ago
• Who is considered the first person to study behavior scientifically?

  Wilhelm Wundt
• What did Wundt establish in the 1870s?

  The world's first psychological laboratory
• What approach to research did Wundt use?

  Structuralism
• What are the key features of Wundt's introspection method?

  • Participants report conscious experiences
  • Focus on sensory objects
  • Break thoughts into separate elements
  • Controlled experimental conditions
• How did Wundt's work influence the field of psychology?

  It established psychology as an independent science
• What is a criticism of Wundt's introspective methods?

  Participants may provide biased self-reports
• What did behaviorists reject in their approach to psychology?

  Introspection and internal mental processes
• What are the main components of the behaviorist approach?

  • Focus on observable behavior
  • Study of stimulus-response mechanisms
  • Use of controlled experiments
  • Rejection of introspection
• Who are two key figures in behaviorism?

  Pavlov and Skinner
• What is the main idea behind social learning theory?

  Humans learn by observing others
• What are the key concepts of cognitive psychology?

  • Mind as a computer analogy
  • Inputs (senses) and outputs (behavior)
  • Theoretical models of mental processes
  • Study of memory, attention, and perception
• What is the focus of humanistic psychology?

  Personal growth and self-actualization
• How does biological psychology relate to medicine?

  It studies brain functions and genetics
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Wundt's introspection method?

  Strengths:

  • Pioneered scientific study of psychology
  • Established controlled experimental methods

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Subjective self-reports
  • Potential for bias and inaccuracies
• What is the significance of fMRI scanners in psychology?

  They allow study of the active brain
• What did Freud contribute to psychology?

  The concept of the unconscious mind