Empirical Method for Knowledge

One based on observation, including experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous authorities.

Creators of psychology

Wilhelm Wundt and William James

Introspection

Wundt’s process in which someone examines their own conscious experience as objectively as possible like any other aspect of nature scientists studied.

Voluntarism

People have free will and should know the intentions of a psychological experiment

Structuralism

The contents of mental processes rather than their functions

Critical Thinking process

Maintaining an attitude of skepticism, recognizing internal biases, making use of logical thinking, asking appropriate questions and making observations

Functionalism

Focuses on how mental activities helped an organism fit into its environment. Second meaning is that functionalists were more interested in the operation of the whole mind rather than its parts.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Focuses on the role of a person’s unconsciousness as well as early childhood experiences

Gestalt

Although a sensory experience can be broken down into parts, how those parts interact with each other is often what an individual responds to in perception.

Pavlov

Studied conditioned reflex which is when an individual produces an unconscious reflex to a stimulus

Behaviorism

Learned behavior and its interaction with the inborn qualities of an organism

Skinner

Spoke of reward and punishment as major drivers within decision making

Humanism

A perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good within everyone

Maslov

Believed once the basic needs for humanity were achieved, society would be driven by higher level needs like social needs

Cognitive Revolution

New disciplinary perspectives in linguistics, neuroscience and computer science reviving interest in the mind as a scientific study