Lecture Notes: Contiguity, Learning Theories, and History of Psychology

Flashcards cover contiguity and Brown's factors, definitions of learning, key figures and approaches in the history of psychology, core ideas of introspection, functionalism vs structuralism, behaviorism and its variants, classical conditioning, and the information-processing/cognitive era.

What does contiguity refer to in Brown's discussion of how sensations become associated, and how do time and place play a role?

Contiguity is the idea that stimuli presented together in time and space become linked; Brown adds factors like the length of time coexisting, recency, vividness, and frequency to this concept.

What is Brown's concept of 'free of strong associations' about in learning?

If something is already strongly associated with something else, it makes it harder for it to form a new strong association with something new.

What are the two broad definitions of learning mentioned in the notes?

Behavioral definition and cognitive definition of learning.

Who is described as the father of psychology in the notes, noted for opening the first psychology research lab and for structuralism?

The figure referred to as the father of psychology (often Wilhelm Wundt) who opened the first psychology research laboratory and is associated with structuralism.

What is introspection and why was it criticized as a method?

Introspection is looking inward to report one's experiences; it was criticized for being subjective, inconsistent, and difficult to verify objectively.

What does functionalism emphasize in psychology, and how does it differ from structuralism?

Functionalism emphasizes the function or purpose of behavior (what it does and why it exists) rather than the components of conscious experience emphasized by structuralism.

Who started the movement of behaviorism and what is its central claim about psychology's subject matter?

John B. Watson; psychology should focus on observable behavior and environmental factors, not unobservable inner states.

Why were animals commonly used in early learning research under behaviorism?

Because animal research allows complete control over environmental factors and prior experiences, enabling clearer interpretation of conditioning.

Name the five major behavioral approaches/figures discussed and their general emphasis.

Watson – behaviorism; Clark Hull – neo-behaviorism; Tolman – cognitive behaviorism; Bandura (Van Durē) – social learning theory; Skinner – radical behaviorism.

What classic conditioning example illustrates Pavlov's dogs according to the notes?

A bell (or similar stimulus) is paired with food to create a conditioned response through classical conditioning.

What is the information-processing approach and why did it gain prominence in psychology?

A cognitive framework modeled after computers, viewing memory and cognition as information processing with input, processing, and output.

Historically, how did learning research differ from memory/cognitive research in terms of methods and focus?

Learning research was largely animal-based and focused on observable behaviors; memory/cognitive research was primarily human-based and focused on internal processes, with limited cross-communication between the fields.

How does Tolman’s cognitive behaviorism differ from classical behaviorism?

Tolman integrated cognitive elements (expectations, cognitive maps) within a behaviorist framework, recognizing internal processes as influencing behavior.

What is Bandura's key contribution to behavioral theory?

Social learning theory: learning occurs through observation and imitation of others.