Untitled Flashcards Set

Titchener’s goals for psychology

To establish psychology as a rigorous empirical science and to analyze the structure of consciousness.

Stimulus error

The mistake of interpreting sensations in terms of their names or meanings instead of describing them.

Titchener’s belief at the start of his career

He believed that psychology should focus primarily on the structure of consciousness through introspection.

Change in Titchener's perspectives

Towards the end of his career, he recognized the importance of the broader psychological context and functional aspects of mental processes.

Four attributes common to all sensations

Quality, intensity, duration, and clearness.

Attributes not applying to feelings

Clearness does not apply to feelings.

Criticisms of introspection

Introspection was criticized for being subjective and lacking reliability.

Titchener’s response to introspection criticism

He argued that introspection is valid if careful attention and controlled conditions are used.

Case study of Jenny

This study inspired research on animal behavior and cognition.

Lamarck’s theory of evolution

Proposes evolution through the inheritance of acquired characteristics.

Darwin’s theory of evolution

Emphasizes natural selection as the mechanism of evolution.

Evidence for naturalistic explanations

While Darwin proposed a theory, the principles of evolution might have emerged from other thinkers.

Influence on Darwin’s survival of the fittest

Herbert Spencer inspired the phrase 'survival of the fittest'.

Darwin’s finches study results

Showed variability in beak depth within the species.

Change in beak depth after generations

No, significant changes in beak depth typically require several generations.

Descent of Man importance

It highlighted the evolutionary connections between humans and animals.

Francis Galton's contributions

Founder of psychometrics and pioneer in statistics and eugenics.

Distribution of mental characteristics

Galton found that mental traits vary among individuals and follow a normal distribution.

Morgan’s improvement in research practices

He emphasized observing behavior without imposing human interpretations.

Law of parsimony similarity

Morgan's principle relates to Occam's razor, suggesting simpler explanations are preferred.

Herbert Spencer’s social Darwinism

Application of Darwinian principles to social policies and justifications of inequality.

American public’s reception to social Darwinism

Mixed; some embraced it, while others rejected the notion of applying evolution to social issues.

William James’ contributions to psychology

He promoted functionalism and pragmatic approach to psychology.

Importance of William James

He integrated psychology with philosophy and emphasized the study of consciousness.

James vs. Wundt

James focused on the purpose of mental processes while Wundt emphasized their structure.

James’ theory of identity

He proposed that the self is composed of various parts, including the material, social, and spiritual self.

Discrimination against women in psychology

Partially resulted from the hypothesis that women were less capable due to biological factors.

Mary Calkins

A psychologist who completed her PhD requirements but was denied the degree because she was a woman.

Helen Woolley

Pioneered studies of children and women's psychology.

Leta Hollingworth

Contributed to psychology with studies on the psychology of women and gifted individuals.

Stanley Hall's contributions

Founded the APA and promoted developmental psychology.

Child development and Adolescence

Hall focused on the psychological changes occurring during childhood and adolescence.

Recapitulation theory

Hall’s theory suggesting that individual development mirrors the evolutionary development of the species.

Founding of functional school of thought

Functionalism was promoted by philosophers and psychologists interested in the purposes of consciousness.

Creator of the term functional

William James is credited with popularizing the term functional in psychology.

Chicago School of thought

An influential group promoting functionalist perspectives in early psychology.

Columbia School of thought

Another early group that contributed to the development of functionalism in psychology.

World wars and mental testing

Increased need for assessment of soldier capabilities and intelligence.

Army Alpha and Beta tests results

Revealed general educational deficiencies among U.S. men.

IQ test measures

Estimates intelligence based on various cognitive abilities.

Changes in Stanford-Binet test 1916 to 2003

Updates included revised age norms and broader assessment of cognitive skills.

Horace Bond’s discovery

Highlighted biases in intelligence testing related to race and socioeconomic status.

APA Board of Scientific Affairs study

Found evidence of cultural biases affecting intelligence testing results.

Origins of the SAT

The SAT was developed in the context of growing standardization in educational assessments.

Beginning of clinical psychology

Started as a response to the need for psychological care in the U.S. but focused on diagnosis rather than treatment.

Witmer’s contributions

Established the first psychological clinic and emphasized applied psychology.

Munsterberg vs. Freud

Munsterberg emphasized behavioral causes, whereas Freud focused on unconscious processes.

Walter Dill Scott’s contributions

Pioneer in applying psychology to marketing and personnel selection.

Laws of Suggestibility

Scott's principles about how suggestion affects consumer behavior.

Importance of Hawthorne studies

Revealed the psychological effects of working conditions and social factors on productivity.

Lillian Gilbreth’s contributions

Known for her work in industrial psychology and time management.

Margaret Washburn

First woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology and a pioneering experimental psychologist.

Psyche Cattel

Contributed to psychometry and the understanding of intelligence.

Thelma Thurstone

Developed tests of mental abilities and contributed to educational psychology.

Lillian Gilbreath

Pioneered efforts in time-motion studies and efficiency in the workplace.