Psychology Themes and Variations Chapter 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_bfqmc
1. Wilhelm Wundt: 1879's founder of psychology (date of birth) Characterized as
the founder of psychology. According to Wundt it was consciousness- the awareness
of immediate experience. Formulating that psychology became the scientific study
of conscious experience.
2. Structuralism: Based on the notion that the task of psychology is to analyze
consciousness unto its basic elements and investigate how these elements are
related.
3. Introspection: Careful, systematic self observation of ones own conscious expe-
rience.
4. Functionalism: based on the belief that psychology should investigate the func-
tion or purpose pof consciousness, rather than its structure.
5. William James: Chief architect of functionalism- wrote principles of psychology
(1890) - thoughts based on Darwin's theory of natural selection. "Psychology should
investigate the functions rather than the structure of consciousness"
6. Sigmund Freud / Unconsciousness: Created procedure known as PSYCHO-
ANALYSIS. He researched the UNCONSCIOUS processes or the thoughts, memo-
ries, and desires that are well below the surfaces of consciousness awareness but
that nonetheless exert great influence on behavior.
7. Psychoanalytic Theory: Attempts to explain personality, motivation, and mental
disorders by focusing on unconsciousness determinants of behavior.
8. Behaviorism: Theoretical orientation based on the premise that scientific psy-
chology should study only observable behavior.
9. John B. Watson: Proposed that psychologists abandon the study of conscious-
ness altogether and focus on behaviors that they could observe directly. (founder of
behaviorism)(Supported nurture not nature) "Give me a dozen healthy infants"
10. Behavior: Refers to any overt ( observable) response or activity by an organism.
11. Stimulus response (S-R) Psychology: Psychologies mission as an attempt to
relate overt behaviors (responses) to observable events in the environment (stimuli).
-> to animal research
12. Experimental Research: Is often more productive if experiments can exert
considerable CONTROL over their subjects like an animal.
13. B.F. Skinner: According to Skinner , if the stimulus of food is followed by the
response of eating, we can fully describe what is happening without making any
guesses about whether the animal is experiencing hunger.
Wrote: (Beyond Freedom and Dignity)- he exerted in this book that all behavior is
fully governed by external stimuli. "Free will is an illusion"
"Organisms tend to repeat responses that lead to positive outcomes, and they tend
not to repeat responses that lead to neutral or negative outcomes."
1/2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_bfqmc
1. Wilhelm Wundt: 1879's founder of psychology (date of birth) Characterized as
the founder of psychology. According to Wundt it was consciousness- the awareness
of immediate experience. Formulating that psychology became the scientific study
of conscious experience.
2. Structuralism: Based on the notion that the task of psychology is to analyze
consciousness unto its basic elements and investigate how these elements are
related.
3. Introspection: Careful, systematic self observation of ones own conscious expe-
rience.
4. Functionalism: based on the belief that psychology should investigate the func-
tion or purpose pof consciousness, rather than its structure.
5. William James: Chief architect of functionalism- wrote principles of psychology
(1890) - thoughts based on Darwin's theory of natural selection. "Psychology should
investigate the functions rather than the structure of consciousness"
6. Sigmund Freud / Unconsciousness: Created procedure known as PSYCHO-
ANALYSIS. He researched the UNCONSCIOUS processes or the thoughts, memo-
ries, and desires that are well below the surfaces of consciousness awareness but
that nonetheless exert great influence on behavior.
7. Psychoanalytic Theory: Attempts to explain personality, motivation, and mental
disorders by focusing on unconsciousness determinants of behavior.
8. Behaviorism: Theoretical orientation based on the premise that scientific psy-
chology should study only observable behavior.
9. John B. Watson: Proposed that psychologists abandon the study of conscious-
ness altogether and focus on behaviors that they could observe directly. (founder of
behaviorism)(Supported nurture not nature) "Give me a dozen healthy infants"
10. Behavior: Refers to any overt ( observable) response or activity by an organism.
11. Stimulus response (S-R) Psychology: Psychologies mission as an attempt to
relate overt behaviors (responses) to observable events in the environment (stimuli).
-> to animal research
12. Experimental Research: Is often more productive if experiments can exert
considerable CONTROL over their subjects like an animal.
13. B.F. Skinner: According to Skinner , if the stimulus of food is followed by the
response of eating, we can fully describe what is happening without making any
guesses about whether the animal is experiencing hunger.
Wrote: (Beyond Freedom and Dignity)- he exerted in this book that all behavior is
fully governed by external stimuli. "Free will is an illusion"
"Organisms tend to repeat responses that lead to positive outcomes, and they tend
not to repeat responses that lead to neutral or negative outcomes."
1/2
