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Questions and Answers
What is the meaning of the word 'Psychology' based on its Greek roots?
Why did later psychologists find it challenging to study the soul?
Why is Psychology considered a difficult field to define precisely?
How did Plato differ from John Locke in their beliefs about knowledge?
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What were the two Greek words that formed the basis for the word 'Psychology'?
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Why did Psychology not directly emerge as a science?
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What did John Locke believe about children's acquisition of knowledge?
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What is necessary for Psychology to be considered a science?
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Why was the definition of Psychology modified?
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What did Wilhelm Wundt establish in the late 19th century to study human behavior?
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What term did Wilhelm Wundt introduce to refer to the awareness of mental activities?
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What did Wilhelm Wundt conduct experiments on in his laboratory?
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How did psychology emerge as a science according to the text?
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Who established the first Psychology Laboratory in 1879?
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Which psychologist defined psychology as the study of the unconscious?
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What method did Wilheim Wundt introduce in psychology?
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According to Sigmund Freud, where are most of our motives hidden?
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What did Sigmund Freud stress as important for personality development?
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What type of processes did Wilhelm Wundt use scientific methods to study?
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Study Notes
Meaning and Roots of Psychology
- The term 'Psychology' comes from two Greek words: "psyche" meaning soul or mind, and "logos" meaning study or discourse.
- Earlier psychologists faced challenges studying the soul due to its abstract nature and lack of empirical evidence.
Challenges in Defining Psychology
- Psychology is difficult to define precisely because it encompasses a wide range of behaviors and mental processes.
- The discipline's evolution has led to a variety of interpretations and applications, complicating a singular definition.
Beliefs About Knowledge
- Plato believed in innate knowledge, suggesting that learning is a process of recollecting what is already known.
- John Locke argued that knowledge is acquired through experience and sensory observation, emphasizing a more empirical approach.
Emergence of Psychology as a Science
- Psychology did not directly emerge as a science because it originally focused on philosophical and abstract concepts, lacking empirical methodologies.
- John Locke proposed that children acquire knowledge through experience, emphasizing the role of the environment in learning.
Scientific Foundations of Psychology
- For Psychology to be considered a science, it must utilize empirical research methods and objective observations.
- The definition of Psychology evolved to include a broader understanding of mental processes and behaviors based on empirical findings.
Contributions of Wilhelm Wundt
- Wilhelm Wundt established the first Psychology laboratory in 1879 at the University of Leipzig, marking the formal beginning of psychology as a scientific discipline.
- He introduced the concept of "apperception" to refer to the awareness of mental activities and how they influence perception.
- Wundt conducted experiments on various aspects of human behavior, including reaction times and sensory perception.
Influence of Sigmund Freud
- Sigmund Freud defined psychology as the study of the unconscious, focusing on how unconscious motives influence behavior.
- Freud emphasized the importance of early childhood experiences and unconscious desires for personality development.
Research Methods in Psychology
- Wilhelm Wundt introduced the method of introspection, which involves examining one's own conscious thoughts and feelings as a way to study mental processes.
- Wundt's approach involved using scientific methods to study immediate conscious experiences, laying the groundwork for experimental psychology.
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Description
Explore the early attempts to define psychology based on the concept of 'Psyche' and 'Logos', and how later psychologists found it challenging to study abstract concepts like soul and mind.
