Podcast
Questions and Answers
What did John Locke suggest about human knowledge?
What did John Locke suggest about human knowledge?
- Knowledge is innate and does not change over time.
- Knowledge is solely derived from rational thought processes.
- Humans have an inherent understanding of the world around them.
- Humans are born with a blank mind and gain knowledge from experiences. (correct)
Which early philosopher is associated with the idea of dualism?
Which early philosopher is associated with the idea of dualism?
- Immanuel Kant
- Gottfried Leibniz
- John Locke
- René Descartes (correct)
What did Wilhelm Wundt establish in 1879?
What did Wilhelm Wundt establish in 1879?
- Modern psychophysics based on qualitative measurements.
- The study of psychophysics without experimental methods.
- Theoretical approaches to understand human consciousness.
- The first psychology laboratory focused on experimental introspection. (correct)
What is meant by 'absolute threshold' in psychophysics?
What is meant by 'absolute threshold' in psychophysics?
Which of the following was a focus of Francis Galton in psychological studies?
Which of the following was a focus of Francis Galton in psychological studies?
How did Immanuel Kant view the relationship between psychology and science?
How did Immanuel Kant view the relationship between psychology and science?
What innovation in psychology did Ebbinghaus contribute around 1880?
What innovation in psychology did Ebbinghaus contribute around 1880?
What was one of the key limitations in psychological studies before 1900?
What was one of the key limitations in psychological studies before 1900?
What does the concept of tabula rasa, associated with John Locke, imply about human knowledge acquisition?
What does the concept of tabula rasa, associated with John Locke, imply about human knowledge acquisition?
Which of the following best describes Wilhelm Wundt's contribution to psychology in 1879?
Which of the following best describes Wilhelm Wundt's contribution to psychology in 1879?
What is the primary focus of psychophysics as introduced by Gustav Fechner?
What is the primary focus of psychophysics as introduced by Gustav Fechner?
What was Immanuel Kant's view regarding the nature of psychology?
What was Immanuel Kant's view regarding the nature of psychology?
What measurement concept did Gustav Fechner introduce that is essential to psychophysics?
What measurement concept did Gustav Fechner introduce that is essential to psychophysics?
What type of study characterized early psychology before 1900?
What type of study characterized early psychology before 1900?
Which of the following statements is true about Francis Galton's approach to psychology?
Which of the following statements is true about Francis Galton's approach to psychology?
What experimental method did Ebbinghaus use to study memory in the 1880s?
What experimental method did Ebbinghaus use to study memory in the 1880s?
Flashcards
Psychology's Scientific Approach
Psychology's Scientific Approach
Psychology studies the mind using scientific methods, focusing on observable behavior and measurable responses.
Psychophysics
Psychophysics
The study of how physical stimuli relate to psychological sensations.
Mental Chronometry
Mental Chronometry
Measuring reaction time to understand mental processes.
Wundt's Laboratory (1879)
Wundt's Laboratory (1879)
Signup and view all the flashcards
Experimental Introspection
Experimental Introspection
Signup and view all the flashcards
Individual Differences (Galton)
Individual Differences (Galton)
Signup and view all the flashcards
Tabula Rasa (Locke)
Tabula Rasa (Locke)
Signup and view all the flashcards
Psychophysics' Measurement
Psychophysics' Measurement
Signup and view all the flashcards
What is Psychology?
What is Psychology?
Signup and view all the flashcards
Aristotle's Psyche
Aristotle's Psyche
Signup and view all the flashcards
René Descartes: Cogito Ergo Sum
René Descartes: Cogito Ergo Sum
Signup and view all the flashcards
John Locke: Tabula Rasa
John Locke: Tabula Rasa
Signup and view all the flashcards
Early Psychology: Sensory Thresholds
Early Psychology: Sensory Thresholds
Signup and view all the flashcards
Ebbinghaus: Memory and Recall
Ebbinghaus: Memory and Recall
Signup and view all the flashcards
Francis Galton: Individual Differences
Francis Galton: Individual Differences
Signup and view all the flashcards
Study Notes
Psychology's Historical Development
- Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, focusing on stimulus-response relationships through observation and measurement. This involves examining the gap between observable data and abstract concepts, such as mental ideas and descriptions of intelligence or personality.
Early Influences
- Aristotle's Psyche: Early concept of the mind or soul.
- René Descartes (Dualism): Argued for a distinct mind separate from the physical body. Emphasized rationalism (knowledge through reason) and nativism (innate mental abilities). Proposed conscious sensations as part of the mind.
- John Locke's Tabula Rasa: The idea of the human mind being born blank and gaining knowledge through experience (sensations, reflections, and ideas).
- Gottfried Leibniz: Proposed that perceptions become thoughts through mental processing.
- Immanuel Kant: Argued for the mind shaping the experience of the world, separating physical and psychological processes. He believed psychology could not be studied scientifically because it was not physical.
Early 19th Century Approaches
- Specificity of Nerves (1811): Early understanding of nervous system structure.
- Sensory Thresholds (1830s): Development of psychophysics, focusing on the measurement of sensory experiences (J.N.D – just noticeable difference).
- Speed of Nervous Impulse (c. 1850): Led to mental chronometry (reaction time studies).
- Gustav Fechner (Psychophysics): Developed methods to measure sensation, defining concepts like absolute threshold (minimum detectable stimulus) and J.N.D (unit of sensory change).
Early Psychological Laboratories and Methods
- Wilhelm Wundt's Laboratory (1879, Leipzig): Established the first formal psychology laboratory. Used psychophysics and mental chronometry to investigate fundamental mental processes (reaction time). This involved measuring how quickly people responded to stimuli as different ways of understanding the mind.
- Ebbinghaus (c.1880): Pioneered research on memory using nonsense syllables to study how recall depends on familiarity and meaning.
- Experimental Introspection: Involved carefully observing and recording subjective experiences.
- Francis Galton: Focused on individual differences in "natural ability" , comparing mental/physical characteristics.
Psychology Before 1900
- Methods: Correlational and experimental studies to understand the human mind (sensory experience, memory, mental ability).
- Limitations: Initial studies did not explore personality, attitudes, or other concepts that were not viewed as scientifically measurable.
- Operationalism: Emphasis on defining concepts by the methods used to measure them.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the early influences that shaped psychology as a scientific discipline. Learn about key figures like Aristotle, Descartes, and Locke, and their contributions to our understanding of the mind. This quiz will test your knowledge of historical concepts and developments in psychological thought.
