History and Structuralism in Psychology
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According to the passage, what was revolutionary about Darwin and Wallace's theory?

  • It applied principles of physics to study living organisms.
  • It disproved the existence of specific forms on our planet.
  • It demonstrated the role of genetics in inheritance.
  • It proposed a mechanism for the evolution of species. (correct)

How did William James extend Darwin's theory of natural selection?

  • By demonstrating that consciousness has no function.
  • By applying it to understand psychological characteristics. (correct)
  • By arguing that it only applies to physical characteristics.
  • By suggesting that natural selection is not applicable to humans.

Why does the passage state that Darwin's reasoning was 'brilliantly circular'?

  • His theory relied on complex mathematical equations.
  • His explanation used adaptation to explain adaptation. (correct)
  • His explanation supported the existing theories of the time.
  • His theory was based on direct experimental evidence.

What key idea from Darwin's work did James apply to the study of the mind?

<p>The principle that traits evolve because they serve a purpose. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What, according to James, was the primary goal of psychologists, based on his interpretation of Darwin's theory?

<p>To determine the function of the mind and its different processes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ebbinghaus's quote, "psychology has a long past but a short history," implies what about the field of psychology?

<p>Psychology has only recently adopted scientific methods to study the mind, despite its ancient roots in philosophical inquiry. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why was Helmholtz's measurement of reaction time significant in the context of early psychology?

<p>It demonstrated that the speed of nerve impulses could be precisely measured, linking physical processes to psychological experience. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Wilhelm Wundt contribute to the establishment of psychology as an independent science?

<p>By establishing the first psychology laboratory and teaching the first course in scientific psychology, Wundt provided institutional and academic foundations for the field. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of touch sensation was Helmholtz primarily investigating when he touched different parts of a person's leg?

<p>The speed at which nerve signals travel from the point of contact to the brain. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Based on the context, what was the primary reason William James was interested in the work of Helmholtz and Wundt?

<p>He believed their work signaled the potential for psychology to become a science. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did measuring reaction time enable Helmholtz to calculate the speed of nerve transmission?

<p>By measuring the difference in reaction times for touches at varying distances, he could calculate the speed at which the signal traveled. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is Wilhelm Wundt often credited as the 'father of experimental psychology'?

<p>He applied rigorous scientific methods to study the structure of consciousness. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be reasonably drawn from Helmholtz's reaction time experiments?

<p>Mental processes involve physical transmission of signals that occur over time. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes Wundt's primary objective for the field of psychology?

<p>To understand the elements of consciousness and the laws governing their combination. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a key limitation of Titchener's introspection technique?

<p>The subjectivity of inner experience made it difficult to verify the accuracy or consistency of reports. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did William James's view of consciousness differ from the structuralist perspective?

<p>James considered consciousness a 'stream', while structuralists aimed to identify its basic components. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following reflects the core emphasis of functionalism?

<p>Understanding the purpose and adaptive significance of mental processes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Darwin's theory of natural selection influence the development of functionalism?

<p>It provided a framework for understanding how mental processes contribute to survival and reproduction. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios exemplifies the principle of natural selection?

<p>A species of bird develops a longer beak over generations to access food sources more effectively. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguished Wundt's approach to psychology from previous philosophical inquiries about the mind?

<p>Wundt applied experimental methods to study the mind, establishing psychology as a science. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did structuralism eventually decline as a dominant approach in psychology?

<p>Its reliance on introspection was criticized for being subjective and unreliable. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Titchener attempt to mitigate the subjectivity inherent in introspection?

<p>By training observers to report raw experiences rather than interpretations. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Wundt's establishment of the first psychology laboratory?

<p>It marked the formal beginning of psychology as a distinct scientific discipline. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the 'stream of consciousness' concept challenge the structuralist approach?

<p>It highlights the fluid and ever-changing nature of conscious experience. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way did functionalists broaden the scope of psychological research compared to structuralists?

<p>By exploring the practical applications of psychological knowledge to real-world problems. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following questions would a functionalist be most interested in answering?

<p>How does anxiety help us respond to threats in our environment? (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did Alfred Russel Wallace play in the development of evolutionary theory?

<p>He independently developed a theory of evolution similar to Darwin's. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What concept did Wundt use to identify three basic dimensions of sensation?

<p>Introspection (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Psychology's history

Psychology's history as an independent science is relatively recent, starting about 150 years ago.

Reaction Time

A method of measuring the time between a stimulus and a response.

Touch response process

Stimulus is applied, nerves transmit signal to the brain, brain processes signal, resulting in sensation/response.

Hermann von Helmholtz

Physician & physicist; Measured nerve signal speed using reaction time.

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What is reaction time?

Reaction time is the time between stimulus onset and response.

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Nerve signal speed

The speed at which nerves transmit information.

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Wilhelm Wundt

Taught first scientific psychology course, wrote first textbook, opened first lab.

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Wundt's contribution

First to teach a psychology course, publish a psychology textbook and to open a psychology lab.

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Alfred Russel Wallace

Independently developed the theory of evolution by natural selection around the same time as Charles Darwin.

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Natural Selection

The mechanism by which organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

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Circular Reasoning (Darwin)

Darwin's argument that adaptive traits evolve via natural selection because they increase survival and reproduction.

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William James

Argued that if physical traits evolved, psychological traits should also evolve through natural selection.

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Function of Consciousness

Consciousness evolved because it serves a purpose, and psychology's task is to identify that purpose.

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Structuralism

The approach to psychology that aimed to identify and analyze the basic elements of the mind.

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Introspection

Analysis of subjective experience by trained observers, reporting 'raw experience'.

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Edward Titchener

Student of Wundt who popularized introspection.

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Wundt's Dimensions of Sensation

Three basic dimensions of all sensations.

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Functionalism

An approach to psychology focused on the purpose and adaptive significance of mental processes.

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Stream of Consciousness

The continuous flow of thoughts and feelings, not static elements.

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Adaptive Attributes

Attributes that improve an organism's chances of survival and reproduction.

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Charles Darwin

Naturalist famous for developing the theory of evolution with natural selection.

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On the Origin of Species

The book where Darwin introduced natural selection.

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Adaptive Significance

Adaptive significance relates to how mental processes benefit survival and reproduction.

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Functionalism Focus

Emphasized studying the purpose of mental processes rather than just the structure.

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Darwin's Influence on Functionalism

Darwin's theory explains why functionalists study the adaptive significance of mental processes.

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Study Notes

  • Hermann Ebbinghaus stated psychology's philosophical roots are old, but its history as an independent science is recent.

Structuralism

  • German scientists began exploring the use of physical and natural science methods to study the human mind ~150 years ago.
  • William James noted the time may have come for psychology to be a science in 1867.
  • Hermann von Helmholtz studied the mathematics of vision and hearing.
  • Helmholtz measured reaction time, the time between stimulus onset and response.
  • It was discovered that people took longer to respond to touches on their toes versus their thighs.
  • Nerves transmit signals from the point of contact to the brain, which allows an individual to "feel" the touch.
  • Helmholtz calculated the speed at which nerves transmit information by comparing reaction times of thigh and toe touches.
  • Wilhelm Wundt taught the first scientific psychology course at the University of Heidelberg in 1867.
  • Wundt published the first psychology textbook in 1874.
  • The first psychology laboratory was opened by Wundt at the University of Leipzig in 1879.
  • Wundt believed the primary goal of psychology was to understand the facts of consciousness, its combinations and relations, to discover the laws which govern these.
  • Structuralism attempts to isolate and analyze the mind’s basic elements, similar to how natural scientists study the physical world.
  • Edward Titchener, Wundt's student, created "systematic self-observation," known as introspection.
  • Introspection is the analysis of subjective experience by trained observers.
  • Observers reported on their "raw experience" rather than interpretations when exposed to stimuli like colors and tones.
  • Titchener believed analysis of reports would reveal basic building blocks of subjective experience.
  • Wundt identified three dimensions of sensation: pleasure/pain, strain/relaxation, and excitation/quiescence, which were found to underlie words describing subjective experiences across languages.
  • A problem with Titchener's introspection was that each person’s inner experience was a private event.
  • It was impossible to verify the accuracy of someone’s experience description or compare it to others.

Functionalism

  • William James disagreed with structuralism, viewing subjective experience as a "stream of consciousness."
  • James and others like John Dewey and James Angell developed functionalism.
  • Functionalism emphasizes the adaptive significance of mental processes.
  • Functionalism got its mind from Darwin, while it inherited its physical body from German experimentalism.
  • Charles Darwin published "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" (1859).
  • Natural selection is the process where attributes promoting survival and reproduction become more common.
  • Adaptive attributes are passed from one generation to the next, becoming more prevalent.
  • Humans have fingers because our ancestors with fingers were more likely to survive and reproduce.
  • James reasoned that if physical traits evolved for adaptation, so should psychological characteristics.
  • The mind serves a function, and James believed psychologists should figure out what that function was.

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Explore the roots of psychology as an independent science, including pioneers like Hermann von Helmholtz and Wilhelm Wundt. Learn about measuring reaction times and the transmission of nerve signals. Discover the beginnings of scientific psychology and its evolution.

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