Psychology: Theories and Influences

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following contributions is attributed to Carl Rogers?

Influential person-centred therapy (correct)

Formulation of cell assembly theory

Development of cognitive behavioral therapy

Mapping of brain functions

What aspect of psychology does evolutionary psychology focus on?

Mental processes as influenced by biological functions

Adaptive value of behavioral processes over generations (correct)

Inner thoughts and feelings analysis

Responses to environmental stimuli

Which key figure is recognized as the father of neuropsychology?

Donald Hebb (correct)

Carl Rogers

James Olds

Abraham Maslow

Which concept is NOT associated with the contributions of David Buss?

Development of a new psychological framework Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key focus of positive psychology?

Exploring positive and adaptive aspects of human life Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements describes a contribution made by Wilder Penfield?

Mapped the brain and identified functions of specific areas Signup and view all the answers

What principle is tied to Donald Hebb's theory on neural connections?

Cells that fire together wire together Signup and view all the answers

In which branch of psychology would you study mental processes alongside biological brain functions?

Neuroscience Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary focus of psychoanalytic theory?

Unconscious determinants of behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which key figure is associated with the foundational concepts of behaviorism?

John B. Watson Signup and view all the answers

What was Edward Bradford Titchener's primary contribution to psychology?

Creating a systematic map of consciousness elements Signup and view all the answers

What does functionalism primarily seek to understand?

The adaptive purposes of psychological traits Signup and view all the answers

How did B.F. Skinner's view differ from traditional psychoanalytic thought?

He considered the mind a 'black box' without introspection. Signup and view all the answers

What major aspect did William James criticize about structuralism?

It did not account for the flow of conscious experience. Signup and view all the answers

Which method did structuralists primarily use to study psychological experiences?

Introspection Signup and view all the answers

What unifying concept did both Watson and Skinner reject in favor of behaviorism?

Introspection and the study of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychoanalytic Theory

Attempts to explain personality, motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on unconscious determinants of behavior
Key figure: Sigmund Freud
Introduced the idea of the unconscious mind as a key factor in human behavior
Proposed stages of psychosexual development

Behaviourism and Watson

Suggests that psychology should only study observable behavior
Key figure: John B. Watson
Believed that behavior is shaped by environmental stimuli and responses and wanted psychology to move toward objectivity
Made behaviorism a major school of thought in psychology
Argued that only observable behaviour should be studied, rejecting introspection and focusing on environmental influence.

Structuralism

Aimed to identify the basic elements (structures) of psychological experience
Key figure: Edward Bradford Titchener (Wilhelm Wundt influences his perspective)
Believed that the basic elements of consciousness were sensations, images, and feelings
Wanted to create a “map” of the elements of consciousness, used a method called introspection, emphasized the importance of systematic observation

Functionalism

Aimed to understand the adaptive purposes of psychological characteristics
Key figure: William James (Influenced substantially by Darwin’s theory of natural selection)
Rejected the structuralist approach and methods
Believed that the structuralist approach was missing the nature of conscious experience
Wanted to understand the flow itself

Behaviourism & Skinner

Reversed the impact of psychoanalytic thought and both viewed the mind as a black box
Key figure: B.F. Skinner
Responses that lead to positive outcomes tend to be repeated and those that lead to negative outcomes tend not to be repeated
Skinner wrote his famous book where he argues free will is an illusion

Humanism

The opposition (behaviourism and psychoanalytic thought) grew into this new school of thought
Humanism is a theoretical orientation that emphasizes the unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom and personal growth
Key figures: Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
their treatments for psychological problems
Carl Rogers developed influential person-centred therapy

Cognitive Revolution & Neuroscience

The study of mental processes (cognition) with the biological functions of the brain (neuroscience)
Emphasizes how brain structures and neural processes underlie mental activities like memory, perception, and learning
Key figure: James Olds, Wilder Penfield, Donald Hebb
James Olds demonstrated that certain regions of the brain were associated with reward
Wilder Penfield began to map the brain and identified that certain brain regions are associated with specific functions
Donald Hebb is considered the father of neuropsychology, and he developed new tests for brain surgery patients to test their functioning following an operation
His famous book outlines cell assembly theory, providing a physiological mechanism for learning and memory.
CELLS THAT FIRE TOGETHER WIRE TOGETHER

Evolutionary Psychology

Examines behavioural processes in terms of their adaptive value for members of a species over the course of many generations.
This perspective applies Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection to human and animal behaviour.
Key figures: Charles Darwin, David Buss
David Buss applied Darwin’s theory specifically to human psychology.

Positive Psychology

Psychology was often too focused on the negative (dysfunctions, weakness)
Developed to understand the positive, adaptive, creative aspects of human existence
Key figure: Martin Seligman
The three good things task, promoted research on what makes life worth living

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Description

This quiz covers foundational psychological theories, including Psychoanalytic Theory, Behaviorism, and Structuralism. Key figures such as Sigmund Freud, John B. Watson, and Edward Bradford Titchener are discussed, focusing on their contributions to the field. Test your knowledge of these influential concepts in psychology.