philosophy

history of psychology - philosophy and thinkers

what is empiricism

belief that knowledge comes from sensory experience.

main thinkers - empiricism

Main thinkers: Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Pavlov, Skinner.

what is rationalism

it emphasizes reason and innate ideas over sensory experience

main thinkers - rationlism

Descartes, Kant, Chomsky.

what is idealism + main thinkers

it suggests reality is mentally constructed or dependent on perception. Main thinkers: Berkeley, Kant.

What is realism, and who are its main thinkers?

it asserts the existence of an external world independent of perception. Main thinkers: Hobbes, Locke, Darwin, William James.

What is materialism, and who are its main thinkers?

it holds that everything is composed of matter. Main thinkers: Hobbes, Helmholtz, Flourens, Broca.

What is dualism, and who are its main thinkers?

it states reality consists of mind and body as distinct substances. Main thinkers: Descartes, Kant.

What is monism, and who are its main thinkers?

it asserts that reality is a single substance (either mental or material). Main thinkers: Hobbes (material monism), Berkeley (mental monism).

What are the primary laws of association?

contiguity, similarity, and contrast.

What are the secondary laws of association?

recency, frequency, and intensity (how strong the association is).

What did John Locke contribute to empiricism?

He proposed that the mind is a blank slate ("tabula rasa") and knowledge arises from sensory experience.

What is Berkeley's idealist view?
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He believed "to exist is to be perceived," meaning reality is mental and dependent on perception

What was Hume's skepticism about?

he doubted cause-and-effect relationships and argued they were habits of thought, not inherent properties of the world.

What is Immanuel Kant's synthesis of rationalism and empiricism?

he argued that sensory data (empiricism) is organized by innate structures of the mind, such as space, time, and categories (rationalism).

What is William James known for?

he studied consciousness as a stream, emotions as reactions to stimuli, and the evolutionary basis of habits and behavior.

What was Freud's main contribution to psychology?

he proposed the unconscious mind, psychosexual development, and the conflict between the id, ego, and superego.

What are Descartes' main ideas?

he developed dualism, the concept of innate ideas, and "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am").

What is Darwin's contribution to psychology?

he introduced the idea of natural selection, showing how behavior and mental states adapt to environments.

What is behaviorism, and who are its key thinkers?

it focuses on observable behavior and conditioning. Key thinkers: Watson, Pavlov, Skinner.

What is Gestalt psychology?

it emphasizes that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, focusing on perception and organization.

What is classical conditioning, and who discovered it?

it is learning through association between stimuli. Discovered by Pavlov.

What is operant conditioning, and who developed it?

it is learning through rewards and consequences. Developed by Skinner.

What are the principles of Gestalt perception?

Proximity, similarity, closure, and prägnanz (good form).

What is Lamarck's evolutionary theory?

traits acquired during life are inherited and that evolution is goal-oriented toward complexity.

What are primary qualities according to Locke?

objective properties of objects, such as shape and motion.

What are secondary qualities according to Locke?

subjective, like color and taste, existing in perception but not in the object itself.

What is the blank slate theory?

Locke's idea that the mind starts as a blank slate ("tabula rasa") and is shaped by experience.

How does Freud's unconscious connect to Romanticism?

he emphasized dreams, emotions, and hidden desires, aligning with “it’s“ focus on the mysterious and intuitive.

How does behaviorism relate to empiricism?

1 applies 2 by focusing on observable behaviors rather than mental processes.

How does Gestalt psychology criticize associationism?

it argues that perception involves whole structures, not just associations of simple ideas.

How does Darwin's theory differ from Lamarck's?

he argued for natural selection, where traits are inherited due to survival advantages, not acquired during life.

What is the difference between realism and idealism?

1 asserts an independent external world; 2 claims reality depends on perception.

What is the difference between empiricism and rationalism?

1 focuses on sensory experience; 2 emphasizes reason and innate knowledge.

What is the difference between monism and dualism?

1 posits one substance (mental or material); 2 posits two distinct substances (mind and body).

What is the id in Freud's theory?

it is the primitive, instinctual part of the mind that seeks immediate gratification of basic drives and desires, such as hunger, sex, and aggression. It operates on the pleasure principle.

What is the ego in Freud's theory?

it is the rational, decision-making part of the mind that mediates between the id, superego, and reality. It operates on the reality principle, balancing desires with practicality.

What is the superego in Freud's theory?

it represents internalized moral standards and ideals from parents and society. It guides behavior with a focus on ethics and guilt, striving for perfection.