PSY1011 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Tabula Rasa, Edward B. Titchener, Psychoanalysis
15 May 2018
School
Department
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Professor
PSY1011
HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology 1A
Learning outcomes :
•Central principle of major theoretical frameworks
•Empiricism
•Sensation and Reflection
•Structuralism
•Functionalism
•Behaviourism
•Cognitivism
•Psychoanalysis
Empiricism
(John Locke)
1632-1702
•The human mind begins as a “tabula rasa” and we learn
through experience
•Two sources of ideas from experience.
Sensation and
Reflection
•Simple knowledge builds complex knowledge
Structuralism
(Wundt, Titchener
•Founded by Edward Titchener
•Student of Wundt
•Aimed to identify the basic elements or structures of
psychology through introspection
•Introspection was a technique that involved reporting on
mental experience
•Introspection was very subjective and bias to the person
assessing.
•Attempted to map the elements of consciousness (sensation,
images, feelings etc)
•Unable to define imageless thought (cognition outside
conscious awareness)
•Emphasised the importance of systematic observation for
psychologists today
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PSY1011
Functionalism
(James)
•Founded by William James
•Attempted to understand the functions or purposes of our
thoughts, feelings and behaviours
•To examine the purpose and functions of the mind.
•“What for” (i.e function) of mind, NOT “What is” (i.e
structures)
•Consciousness evolved because it has a function - adaptive
purpose, struggle for survival.
• The study of the “psyche” or soul
• Asking why/what for? (functionalists) instead of what/what is?
(structuralists)
•Influenced by Darwin’s theory of natural selection (evolution)
by believing that psychological characteristics evolved to
increase changes of survival
Behaviourism
(Pavlov, Watson,
Skinner)
•Founded by John Watson
•Uncovering general principles of learning. Environment was
everything.
•Emphasis on objectivity
•Prediction and control of behaviour
•Animals studies
•Black box
•Believed that observable behaviour should be the subject
matter of psychology
• Uncovered the principles of learning that explain all
behaviours Focused on what occurs “outside” the organism
(rewards, punishments, etc)
• Also known as black box psychology, for neglecting the
connections that occur within the brain
Cognitivism (Piaget)
•An approach still utilised today
•Examines the role of mental processes and cognition on
behaviour (opening up the “black box”)
• Believes that thinking affects our behaviour in powerful ways
Focuses on the way humans interpret the world around them,
because it’s the interpretation of rewards and punishments
that’s truly important
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Learning outcomes : central principle of major theoretical frameworks. Psychology 1a: empiricism, sensation and reflection, structuralism, functionalism, behaviourism, cognitivism, psychoanalysis. Skinner: founded by john watson, uncovering general principles of learning. Focuses on the way humans interpret the world around them, because it"s the interpretation of rewards and punishments that"s truly important. Rationalist : the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive. Human mind begin as a tabula rasa and we learn through experience. Two-point threshold to show sensitivity to touch differed across different body areas. Just noticeable differences demonstrated judgements are relative. Examination of emotions in humans and animals ; observed universality of emotional expression. Change in religious and cartesian thinking : no separation between man and animals. principles that organisms that possess adaptions survive and reproduce at a higher rates than do other organisms. Introspection : method by which trained observers carefully re ect and report on their mental experiences.
