Psychology Historical Development

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Questions and Answers

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?

Immanuel Kant

Gottfried Leibniz

John Locke

René Descartes (correct)

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?

The minimum stimulus intensity a person can detect 50% of the time under ideal conditions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a focus of Francis Galton in psychological studies?

Natural ability and individual differences. Signup and view all the answers

How did Immanuel Kant view the relationship between psychology and science?

He argued that psychology is not a science because it cannot be observed or measured like physical phenomena. Signup and view all the answers

What innovation in psychology did Ebbinghaus contribute around 1880?

The study of memory and recall, particularly using nonsense syllables. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the key limitations in psychological studies before 1900?

The inability to measure personality and attitudes effectively. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of tabula rasa, associated with John Locke, imply about human knowledge acquisition?

Humans are born with a blank slate, gaining knowledge from experience. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes Wilhelm Wundt's contribution to psychology in 1879?

He established the first psychological laboratory based on experimental methods. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of psychophysics as introduced by Gustav Fechner?

The relationship between physical stimuli and mental sensations. Signup and view all the answers

What was Immanuel Kant's view regarding the nature of psychology?

He argued that psychology is fundamentally subjective and cannot be measured. Signup and view all the answers

What measurement concept did Gustav Fechner introduce that is essential to psychophysics?

The idea of the just noticeable difference (J.N.D). Signup and view all the answers

What type of study characterized early psychology before 1900?

Correlational experimental study of human mental processes. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about Francis Galton's approach to psychology?

He sought to compare physical and mental individual differences through natural ability. Signup and view all the answers

What experimental method did Ebbinghaus use to study memory in the 1880s?

The use of nonsense syllables to assess retention. Signup and view all the answers

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.

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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.