Approaches – Week 5 psychology notes
Wundt and Introspection STANDARDISED PROCEDURES à
• 1879 – Wilhelm Wundt opened the first lab n He recorded experiences of various stimuli the
dedicated to psychological enquiry. people were presented with such as objects or
• In Leipzig, Germany. sounds.
• Marked the beginning of scientific psychology. n Observations divided into 3 categories. Thoughts,
Separating it from its broad philosophical roots. images and sensations.
• AIM was to analyse the nature of human
consciousness.
STRUCTURALISM à
Introspection = the first systematic experimental attempt
to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into n This way in isolating the structure of the conscious
basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations. is called structuralism.
History of psychology (Timeline)
è 17th to 19th century = psychology is a branch of philosophy… at this time its classed
as experimental psychology.
è 1879 = Wundt opens first lab into psychological enquiry, psychology emerges as its
own discipline.
è 1900’s = Sigmund Freud emphasises the influence of unconscious mind and forms
the psychodynamic approach, problems can be explained with conflicts in the
mind.
è 1913 = John B. Watson with B. F. Skinner establishes the behavioural approach.
è 1950’s = Rogers and Maslow develop the Humanistic approach.
è 1960’s = Introduction of computer gives psychologists a metaphor for the
operations of the mind (cognitive approach)
è 1960’s = Bandura proposes Social learning theory which draws attention to
cognitive factors.
è 1980’s = Biological approach established due to technology advances.
è 21st century = cognitive neuroscience and further advanced Biological approach.
Emergence of Psychology as a science
Science = acquiring and building knowledge through systematic and objective measurement.
n 1900’s à Behavioural approach proposed by Watson and Skinner (can be observed).
n 1950’s à Cognitive approach due to the digital revolution, they tested their predications of the mind like a
computer model through experiments.
n 1980’s à Biological approach due to new tech such as fMRI and EEG’s. New methods have allowed us to
understand the relationship between genes and behaviour.
Evaluation (introspection) Evaluation of emergence of psychology
Scientific à some methods were systematic and Modern psychology à many approaches rely on scientific
controlled. Ensuring extraneous variables were not a methods so suggests that through the century’s
factor. SO Wundt’s research can be classes as a forerunner. psychology has established itself as a discipline.
Subjective data à relied on self-reporting mental Subjective data à not all approaches are objective, so the
processes and so is subjective, so early work was flawed. scientific study of thoughts and mind is not always pos.
, Behaviourist Approach (learning approach)
So what is it?
• Concerned with studying behaviour that can be observed and measured.
• Rejected introspection as its concepts were vague and difficult to measure.
• Behaviourists tried to maintain more control and objectivity with their research by using lab experiments.
à Behaviourists suggested that the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species.
Classical Conditioning
• LEARNING THROUGH ASSOCIATION
• Ivan Pavlov
• Neutral stimulus can come to elicit a new response.
• Pavlov’s Dogs
Operant conditioning
• Behaviour is shapes and maintained by its consequences.
• BF Skinner (1953)
• Positive reinforcement = receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed.
• Negative reinforcement = avoiding something unpleasant
• Punishment = unpleasant consequence of behaviour
Positive and negative reinforcement à increases the likelihood behaviour will be repeated
Punishment à decreases likelihood behaviour will be repeated.
Scientific credibility Real life application Mechanistic view of behaviour
à focuses on the measurement of à can be applied to a range of real- à humans are seen as passive and
observable behaviour within highly world problems and behaviours. machine-like responders to the
controlled lab studies. environment.
à operant conditioning is the bases
à emphasises objectivity and is TOKEN ECONOMY SYSTEMS that à with little or no conscious insight
replication. have been used in prisons and into behaviour.
psychiatric wards.
à gave psychology greater à SLT and cognitive approach take
credibility. à treatment of phobias – patient into account mental processes during
doesn’t have to think about the learning.
problem (suitable for patients with
à SO, learning theory may apply less
low insight or learning difficulties.
to humans than animals.
Environmental determinism
à Behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as determined by past experiences that have been conditioned.
à Skinner suggested everything we do is due to our reinforcement history.
à Behaviourist approach ignores any sense of free will.
à skinner said that any sense of free will was an illusion.
Wundt and Introspection STANDARDISED PROCEDURES à
• 1879 – Wilhelm Wundt opened the first lab n He recorded experiences of various stimuli the
dedicated to psychological enquiry. people were presented with such as objects or
• In Leipzig, Germany. sounds.
• Marked the beginning of scientific psychology. n Observations divided into 3 categories. Thoughts,
Separating it from its broad philosophical roots. images and sensations.
• AIM was to analyse the nature of human
consciousness.
STRUCTURALISM à
Introspection = the first systematic experimental attempt
to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into n This way in isolating the structure of the conscious
basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations. is called structuralism.
History of psychology (Timeline)
è 17th to 19th century = psychology is a branch of philosophy… at this time its classed
as experimental psychology.
è 1879 = Wundt opens first lab into psychological enquiry, psychology emerges as its
own discipline.
è 1900’s = Sigmund Freud emphasises the influence of unconscious mind and forms
the psychodynamic approach, problems can be explained with conflicts in the
mind.
è 1913 = John B. Watson with B. F. Skinner establishes the behavioural approach.
è 1950’s = Rogers and Maslow develop the Humanistic approach.
è 1960’s = Introduction of computer gives psychologists a metaphor for the
operations of the mind (cognitive approach)
è 1960’s = Bandura proposes Social learning theory which draws attention to
cognitive factors.
è 1980’s = Biological approach established due to technology advances.
è 21st century = cognitive neuroscience and further advanced Biological approach.
Emergence of Psychology as a science
Science = acquiring and building knowledge through systematic and objective measurement.
n 1900’s à Behavioural approach proposed by Watson and Skinner (can be observed).
n 1950’s à Cognitive approach due to the digital revolution, they tested their predications of the mind like a
computer model through experiments.
n 1980’s à Biological approach due to new tech such as fMRI and EEG’s. New methods have allowed us to
understand the relationship between genes and behaviour.
Evaluation (introspection) Evaluation of emergence of psychology
Scientific à some methods were systematic and Modern psychology à many approaches rely on scientific
controlled. Ensuring extraneous variables were not a methods so suggests that through the century’s
factor. SO Wundt’s research can be classes as a forerunner. psychology has established itself as a discipline.
Subjective data à relied on self-reporting mental Subjective data à not all approaches are objective, so the
processes and so is subjective, so early work was flawed. scientific study of thoughts and mind is not always pos.
, Behaviourist Approach (learning approach)
So what is it?
• Concerned with studying behaviour that can be observed and measured.
• Rejected introspection as its concepts were vague and difficult to measure.
• Behaviourists tried to maintain more control and objectivity with their research by using lab experiments.
à Behaviourists suggested that the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species.
Classical Conditioning
• LEARNING THROUGH ASSOCIATION
• Ivan Pavlov
• Neutral stimulus can come to elicit a new response.
• Pavlov’s Dogs
Operant conditioning
• Behaviour is shapes and maintained by its consequences.
• BF Skinner (1953)
• Positive reinforcement = receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed.
• Negative reinforcement = avoiding something unpleasant
• Punishment = unpleasant consequence of behaviour
Positive and negative reinforcement à increases the likelihood behaviour will be repeated
Punishment à decreases likelihood behaviour will be repeated.
Scientific credibility Real life application Mechanistic view of behaviour
à focuses on the measurement of à can be applied to a range of real- à humans are seen as passive and
observable behaviour within highly world problems and behaviours. machine-like responders to the
controlled lab studies. environment.
à operant conditioning is the bases
à emphasises objectivity and is TOKEN ECONOMY SYSTEMS that à with little or no conscious insight
replication. have been used in prisons and into behaviour.
psychiatric wards.
à gave psychology greater à SLT and cognitive approach take
credibility. à treatment of phobias – patient into account mental processes during
doesn’t have to think about the learning.
problem (suitable for patients with
à SO, learning theory may apply less
low insight or learning difficulties.
to humans than animals.
Environmental determinism
à Behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as determined by past experiences that have been conditioned.
à Skinner suggested everything we do is due to our reinforcement history.
à Behaviourist approach ignores any sense of free will.
à skinner said that any sense of free will was an illusion.
