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Discuss the emergence of Psychology as a science/Discuss Wundt’s contribution to Psychology as a science
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German doctor Wilhelm Wundt opened the first Founding Father-Often known as the father of
experimental laboratory at the university of Leipzig in experimental psychology and paved the way for later
1879. scientifically controlled research into psychology
Moved psychology from philosophical roots to Lack of control and subjectivity-Criticised by later
controlled experimental research. behaviourist learning theorists who thought that
Promoted the use of introspection as a way of studying internal processes could not be scientifically controlled.
mental processes. Introspection was highly subjective as it relied on the
Introspection is a systematic analysis of one’s own participant expressing exactly what they felt, something
conscious experiences of a standard stimulus (sensation which could be very different to others.
and perception). Often used a metronome. Cognitive build-Study of mental processes later built on
Systematic research as the same stimulus with the by cognitive psychologists but who used
same surroundings and instructions were given to each experimentation not introspection.
participant, and participants were highly trained.
Structuralist approach-separate elements
Wrote the first textbook of psychology [Principles of
Physiological Psychology 1873-74]
Discuss Learning theories in Psychology/Discuss the behaviourist approach/SLT
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Behaviourism Behaviourist
Assumes all behaviour is learnt; animals and humans Scientific credit; idiographic approach-brought the
learn in the same ways (universality); the mind is language and methods of the natural sciences into the
irrelevant area of psychology by focusing on measurable
Only interested in the way’s behaviour can be observed behaviour in lab settings. Replicable giving greater
and measured. As such, it rejected introspection as it credibility.
involved too many concepts that were vague and Dominant influence-approach became a dominant
difficult to measure. influence in psychology for the following 50 years. [Pre-
Leading figures John B. Watson (1913) who used a 9 paradigm shift]
month old baby ‘Little Albert’ showing the importance Real-life application-principles of conditioning have
of the environmental factors in learning as he managed been applied to a broad range of real-world behaviours
to ‘learn’ a fear response, in this case rats then white and problems. E.g. Token economy in institutions and
things generally based on a metal bar every time he classical conditioning of phobias.
saw it. This is one example of classical conditioning. Mechanistic view of behaviour-from a behaviourist
Pavlov (1927) showed dogs could be conditioned to perspective, animals and humans are seen as passive
salivate at the sound of a bell. Through the process of and machine like with little to no conscious insight. SLT
association however, has expressed human influence on behaviour,
UCS→ UCR| food → salivation suggesting we have some impact on what we seek to
UCS + CS → UCR |food + bell → salivation observe.
CS→CR | bell→ salivation Ethics of animal experiments
Principles of classical conditioning; generalisation, Environmental determinism/reductionism-Skinner
discrimination [same response], extinction [CS suggested free will is an illusion and we impose a sense
presented with no UCS t/f no action], spontaneous of control on ourselves but our past conditioning
recovery [same after long time], higher order history also determines the outcome. It also sees all
conditioning [new CS] behaviour therefore as determined by the environment
Operant conditioning shown by Skinners Rats. and, to some extent, by our past experiences.
Positive/Negative reinforcement, punishment.
Application to variable ratios and gambling addiction-
Skinner’s research SLT
SLT Scientific methodology to study learning
Suggests theory of observational learning Explores many areas including gender and aggression
Learning will only take place if the reward, for example, Less mechanical view of learning-neither classical nor
is seen to be worthy. operant conditioning can explain how people learn on
Role of mediational processes Attention; Retention; their own. Humans/animals may store information of
Motor reproduction; Motivation. The first two relate to others and use this to make a decision.
learning the second two relate to performance- Explains cultural differences in behaviour-SLT explains
something else which dictates whether behaviour will how media and other influences can impact behaviour
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