Questions and Answers
What is the origin of the word 'psychology'?
Psyche + Logos
What is the definition of psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Psychology is considered a social science.
True
Which of the following are processes that psychology is based on? (Select all that apply)
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What is a response in psychological terms?
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What is behavior in the context of psychology?
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What does the term 'stimulus' refer to in psychology?
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Which of the following is NOT one of the major schools of thought in psychology?
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Who is known as the 'father of experimental psychology'?
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Structuralism focused on the functions of consciousness.
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What method did introspection involve?
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What did William James primarily focus on in functionalism?
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What are the two kinds of behavior studied in behaviorism?
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Study Notes
Origin of the Word ‘Psychology’
- Derived from two Greek words: Psyche (mind/soul) and Logos (science/study of).
Definition of Psychology
- Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Nature of Psychology as a Science
- Based on three processes: gathering factual information, forming theories, testing theories.
- Employs the empirical method for investigation and research.
- Objective measurement is essential, although complete objectivity is challenging due to human involvement.
Key Terms in Psychology
- Behavior: Organism’s external reactions to its environment.
- Stimulus: Any object or event that provokes a response from an organism.
- Response: The behavior resulting from a stimulus.
Schools of Thought in Psychology
- Various perspectives emerge as psychology developed, influencing understanding of human mind and behavior. Major schools include:
- Structuralism
- Functionalism
- Behaviorism
- Psychoanalysis
- Gestalt
Structuralism
- Advocates: Wilhelm Wundt, Edward Titchener.
- Focused on identifying basic structures of the human mind, not the brain.
- Wundt established the first psychological laboratory in Leipzig (1879), earning him the title 'father of experimental psychology'.
- Emphasized introspection (self-observation) as a method to examine consciousness.
- Rules for introspection: strained attention, trained observers, avoiding stimulus error.
- Acknowledged limitations: results not generalizable, could not explain imageless thoughts.
Functionalism
- Advocates: William James, John Dewey.
- Concentrated on the function of consciousness rather than its structure.
- James rejected the idea that consciousness could be simplified into elements.
- Viewed the mind as an evolutionary development aiding in environmental adaptation.
- More scientific and practical than structuralism, promoting applicable knowledge in education.
Behaviorism
- Advocates: John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov.
- Differentiated between two types of behavior: overt (observable, measurable) and covert (hidden).
- Focused exclusively on overt behavior, dismissing hidden mental processes as unscientific.
- Emphasis on measurable actions over internal thoughts or feelings.
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of psychology as outlined in Chapter 1. Learn about the origins of the word 'psychology' and its definition as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Discover the nature of psychology as a science, including its methods and theoretical frameworks.
