Test Bank for Hergenhahn's An Introduction to the
History of Psychology
Historiography - Answersthe study of the proper way to write history. The topic is complex, and
there are no final answers to many of the questions it raises.
Presentism - AnswersInterpreting and evaluating historical events
in terms of contemporary knowledge and standards.
Historicism - AnswersThe study of the past for its own sake,
without attempting to interpret and evaluate it in terms
of current knowledge and standards, as is the case with
presentism.
Zeitgeist - AnswersThe spirit of the times.
Great-person approach - AnswersEmphasizing the works of individuals; The approach to history
that concentrates on the most prominent contributors to the topic or field under consideration
Historical development approach - AnswersThe approach to history that concentrates on an
element of a field or discipline and describes how the understanding or approach to studying
that element has changed over time. An example is a description of how mental illness has been
defined and studied throughout history.
eclectic approach - AnswersTaking the best from a variety of
viewpoints. The approach to the history of psychology
,taken in this text is eclectic because it combines cover-
age of great individuals, the development of ideas and
concepts, the spirit of the times, and contributions from
other disciplines.
Science - Answerscame into existence as a way of answering questions about nature by
examining nature directly rather than by depending on church dogma, past authorities, folk
theories, or logical analysis alone
empirical observation - AnswersThe direct observation of that which is being studied in order to
understand it.
rationalism - AnswersThe philosophical belief that knowledge
can be attained only by engaging in some type of systematic mental activity.
Empiricism - AnswersThe belief that the basis of all knowledge
is experience.
scientific theory - Answershas two main
functions: (1) It organizes empirical observations
and (2) it acts as a guide for future observations.
Traditionally, a proposed explanation
of a number of empirical observations; according to
Popper, a proposed solution to a problem.
Confirmable propositions - AnswersWithin science, propositions capable of validation through
empirical tests.
, scientific law - Answersobserved relationship between two or more classes
of empirical events. For example, when X occurs,
Y also tends to occur.
Correlational laws - AnswersLaws that specify the systematic
relationships among classes of empirical events. Unlike
causal laws, the events described by correlational laws do not need to be causally related. One
can note, for example, that as average daily temperature rises, so does the crime rate without
knowing (or even caring) if the two events are causally related.
Causal laws - AnswersLaws describing causal relationships.
Such laws specify the conditions that are necessary
and sufficient to produce a certain event. Knowledge of causal laws allows both the prediction
and control of events.
Determinism - AnswersThe belief that everything that occurs
does so because of known or knowable causes and that
if these causes were known in advance, an event could be predicted with complete accuracy.
Also, if the causes of an event were known, the event could be prevented by preventing its
causes. Thus, the knowledge of an event's causes allows the prediction and control of the event.
Karl Popper (1902-1994) - AnswersSaw scientific method as having three components:
problems, proposed solutions to the problems (theories), and criticisms of the proposed
solutions. Because all scientific theories will eventually be found to be false, the highest status
any scientific theory can attain is not yet disconfirmed.
History of Psychology
Historiography - Answersthe study of the proper way to write history. The topic is complex, and
there are no final answers to many of the questions it raises.
Presentism - AnswersInterpreting and evaluating historical events
in terms of contemporary knowledge and standards.
Historicism - AnswersThe study of the past for its own sake,
without attempting to interpret and evaluate it in terms
of current knowledge and standards, as is the case with
presentism.
Zeitgeist - AnswersThe spirit of the times.
Great-person approach - AnswersEmphasizing the works of individuals; The approach to history
that concentrates on the most prominent contributors to the topic or field under consideration
Historical development approach - AnswersThe approach to history that concentrates on an
element of a field or discipline and describes how the understanding or approach to studying
that element has changed over time. An example is a description of how mental illness has been
defined and studied throughout history.
eclectic approach - AnswersTaking the best from a variety of
viewpoints. The approach to the history of psychology
,taken in this text is eclectic because it combines cover-
age of great individuals, the development of ideas and
concepts, the spirit of the times, and contributions from
other disciplines.
Science - Answerscame into existence as a way of answering questions about nature by
examining nature directly rather than by depending on church dogma, past authorities, folk
theories, or logical analysis alone
empirical observation - AnswersThe direct observation of that which is being studied in order to
understand it.
rationalism - AnswersThe philosophical belief that knowledge
can be attained only by engaging in some type of systematic mental activity.
Empiricism - AnswersThe belief that the basis of all knowledge
is experience.
scientific theory - Answershas two main
functions: (1) It organizes empirical observations
and (2) it acts as a guide for future observations.
Traditionally, a proposed explanation
of a number of empirical observations; according to
Popper, a proposed solution to a problem.
Confirmable propositions - AnswersWithin science, propositions capable of validation through
empirical tests.
, scientific law - Answersobserved relationship between two or more classes
of empirical events. For example, when X occurs,
Y also tends to occur.
Correlational laws - AnswersLaws that specify the systematic
relationships among classes of empirical events. Unlike
causal laws, the events described by correlational laws do not need to be causally related. One
can note, for example, that as average daily temperature rises, so does the crime rate without
knowing (or even caring) if the two events are causally related.
Causal laws - AnswersLaws describing causal relationships.
Such laws specify the conditions that are necessary
and sufficient to produce a certain event. Knowledge of causal laws allows both the prediction
and control of events.
Determinism - AnswersThe belief that everything that occurs
does so because of known or knowable causes and that
if these causes were known in advance, an event could be predicted with complete accuracy.
Also, if the causes of an event were known, the event could be prevented by preventing its
causes. Thus, the knowledge of an event's causes allows the prediction and control of the event.
Karl Popper (1902-1994) - AnswersSaw scientific method as having three components:
problems, proposed solutions to the problems (theories), and criticisms of the proposed
solutions. Because all scientific theories will eventually be found to be false, the highest status
any scientific theory can attain is not yet disconfirmed.
