L8: Clinical & Applied Psychology

What was the first application of psychology?

Psychometric testing, as early psychologists weren't allowed to provide therapy.

Who popularized psychotherapy?

Sigmund Freud, as a psychiatrist.

Which clinic helped establish clinical psychology in the UK?

The Tavistock Clinic, founded in 1920.

What areas has psychology expanded into today?

Public policy, mental health services, education, and behavior-change campaigns.

What was the focus of Lightner Witmer's first psychology clinic?

Educational and learning difficulties, such as dyslexia.

What were Witmer's four aims for clinical psychology?

1. Study mental development and disability in schoolchildren. 2. Develop psychological clinics. 3. Provide practical help for educators and social workers. 4. Train professional psychologists.

What historical pressures changed psychologists' roles in mental health by 1914?

World Wars, Prohibition, and a growing demand for psychological expertise.

What psychological condition emerged from WW1?

Shell shock, a precursor to PTSD.

What was the British army's stance on non-physical psychological issues during WW1?

They dismissed them as 'malingering' (poor character/discipline).

How did the perception of addiction change in the late 1800s to early 1900s?

It shifted from moral failure to a recognized disease of the nervous system.

What organization emerged in 1935 to support alcohol problems?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

What was the dominant approach in psychiatry before 1945?

Psychoanalysis.

What major shift occurred in psychiatry from 1945 to 1960?

A shift toward biological psychiatry.

What were some early biological interventions in psychiatry?

Electroconvulsive therapy, lobotomy, insulin shock therapy, and deep sleep therapy.

What did Eysenck's research reveal about psychotherapy effectiveness?

Spontaneous recovery rates were higher than those for psychoanalysis, which had a ~44% effectiveness rate.

What critiques arose against Freudian psychotherapy?

Criticism of its effectiveness and calls for evidence-based behavioral and cognitive therapies.

What were some issues with early psychiatric treatments?

Poor outcomes, high risks, and harsh side effects.

What reforms resulted from the backlash against psychiatry?

Deinstitutionalization, improved drug development, and greater scientific rigor.

What was the impact of the GI Bill and NHS on mental health policy?

They drove policy changes reflecting shifting attitudes toward mental health.

What was the significance of the anti-psychiatry movement?

It challenged traditional psychiatric authority and opened space for psychological approaches.

What professional societies emerged in psychology during this period?

The American Psychological Association (APA) and the British Psychological Society (BPS).

What tensions arose within the psychology profession?

Tensions between academic and professional psychologists, especially post-WWII.

What was the outcome of the stigma reduction related to shell shock and PTSD?

It contributed to a broader acceptance of mental health issues.

How did the understanding of addiction evolve during the temperance movement?

Addiction was reframed as a public health issue rather than just a moral failing.

What was the role of psychologists during World War II?

They treated combat stress psychologically, marking a shift from earlier approaches.

What approach did biological psychiatry open space for?

New approaches in psychology.

How did psychologists reshape therapy?

By making it more client-centered and less invasive, with greater standardization and evidence-based methods.

What are the key principles of psychological testing?

Reliability, consistency, validity, and standardization.

Who pioneered early intelligence testing?

Francis Galton.

What was the contribution of Binet & Simon to intelligence testing?

They developed a more effective test that included varied tasks and was empirically validated.

What formula did William Stern introduce for IQ?

IQ = (Mental Age / Chronological Age) × 100.

Who introduced the term 'personality' in a clinical context?

Theodore Ribot.

What did Allport distinguish between in personality psychology?

Idiographic (individual life stories) vs. nomothetic (trait-based, quantitative) approaches.

What was Lewis Terman's contribution to psychological testing?

He expanded Binet's work into the Stanford-Binet test and promoted standardized school testing.

What were the contrasting purposes of psychological testing in France and the USA?

France aimed to support children with learning difficulties, while the USA sought to select talent and justify eugenic policies.

What was the Army Alpha test used for during WWI?

It was a verbal/general knowledge test adapted from the Stanford-Binet for officer selection.

What were the major problems identified with mass testing in the 1920s?

Poor item content, circular categorization, faulty norms, low academic correlation, and large regional differences.

What are some current applications of psychological testing?

Personnel selection, college admissions, courts, school streaming, and mental health assessment.

Who linked psychology with law, work, and education?

Hugo Münsterberg.

What did Elton Mayo's Hawthorne studies reveal about productivity?

Any change in conditions increased productivity due to workers feeling observed and involved.

What did the human relations movement emphasize?

The importance of treating employees well in organizations.

What key studies influenced post-WWII social psychology?

Cognitive dissonance (Festinger), obedience (Milgram), and roles/environment (Zimbardo).

What is sociobiology?

The study of the evolutionary basis of behavior and the influence of natural and sexual selection.

What did advances in cognitive neuroscience enable?

Recording brain activity during psychological tasks and inferring brain locations and networks.

What did Hebb's theory suggest about learning?

Learning occurs via 'cells that fire together, wire together.'

What role does the brain play in psychology according to modern studies?

The brain is central to psychology, cognition, and social behavior.

What are the three dimensions of Heymans' early personality typology?

Emotion, Activity, and After-Effects.

What did the Army Beta test assess?

Nonverbal abilities of non-English speakers or illiterate recruits.

What was a significant critique of mass psychometric testing?

The tests had questionable equivalence between Alpha and Beta tests.

What was the impact of the Hawthorne studies on HR practices?

They shaped the human relations movement and influenced modern human resource management.

What was the significance of the Stanford-Binet test?

It became a standard for intelligence testing and was used for educational purposes.

What did Kurt Lewin emphasize in social psychology?

The importance of real-world problems and experimental demonstration.

What criticisms exist regarding modern evolutionary psychology?

Concerns about 'just-so' stories, reinforcing gender norms, and unfalsifiability.