09/08

The historical context of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics in the 1800s.
- Initial belief that humans were fundamentally different from nature.
- Shift towards seeing humans as part of the natural world, possible study through scientific methods.
- Evolution of thought from Cartesian Dualism to a mechanistic view of humans.

Skepticism towards the exclusivity of spiritual explanations at the mid-1800s.
- Rene Descartes' Dualism: Proposal that humans are both machines (physical) and spirits (metaphysical).
- Development of biological arguments suggesting human beings function in accordance with natural laws.

Early critics of psychology.
- The stereotype of early psychologists being "German old white guys".
- Historical context: Germany's strong economy in the 1800s led to increased research investment to maintain dominance.
Introduction of Psychology as a new discipline during the 19th century.
- Emergence from established sciences like Chemistry and Physics.

Concept of Psychophysics introduced by Ernst Weber and Gustav Fechner.
- Study of the relationship between stimuli and sensations.
Just-Noticeable Difference (JND) experiments.
- Example: Using weights to determine perceptual difference thresholds.
- Addition of weight: 100g vs 110g; detection of 10g difference.
- Contrasting with lighter weights: 10g vs 11g; detection of 1g difference.
- Establishing the Weber Fraction: the ratio of change needed for difference perception.
- Applicability of psychophysical findings across sensory modalities (brightness, loudness).

Introduction of Wilhelm Wundt as the father of psychology.
- Founder of the first psychology lab in 1878, emphasizing experimental methods.
- Defined structuralism: Deconstructing conscious experience into basic elements (color, sound).
Introspection: Wundt's method of studying consciousness.
- Participants trained to carefully analyze their conscious experience in response to stimuli.
- Limitations of introspection discussed: subjective response, biases, and lack of empirical validation.

Wundt's quantitative approach despite the qualitative nature of introspection.
Example of experimental method: Use of metronome to gauge perception of tempo and intensity of sound.
- Discovering consciousness's reaction to stimuli and categorizing elements of experience.

Shift from structuralism to functionalism following Darwinian principles.
- Emphasis on the 'why' of consciousness rather than 'what'.
William James emerged as a key advocate for functionalism in psychology.

Attempt to scientifically study memory despite its elusive nature.
Introduction of Constant Vowel Constant (CVC) strings for memory testing.
- Methodology: Learning rates, immediate recall trials, and subsequent tests on recall over time.
Discovery of the Forgetting Curve: Demonstrating how quickly memories fade and the implications of relearning.

Division between scientific psychology (focusing on normative processes) and clinical psychology (addressing mental disorders).
- Dual influences: The scientific analysis (Wundt) and psychoanalytical perspectives (Freud).

Freud's departure from empirical science as a medical doctor, focusing instead on psychological phenomena like hysteria.
- Concept of the unconscious mind protecting consciousness from trauma (example - psychological blindness).

Introduction of the Id, Ego, and Superego frameworks.
- Id: Primitive and impulsive aspect driven by the pleasure principle.
- Superego: The idealized self, striving for moral perfection.
- Ego: Mediator between Id's desires and Superego's constraints.

Influence of Freudian theories on the public: Fame contrasted with scientific rigor.
- The potential of Freud's theories to stir public interest over holistic scientific understanding.
- The split in psychology into established scientific inquiry and Freudian clinical practice.