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PSY 401: EXAM 2
aesthesiometer |
compass-like instrument used to measure tactile sensitivity. Two points can be stimulated simultaneously. The task of participants is to report whether they feel both points or only one |
apperception |
Wundt Psychology: Denoting intelligence direction within a context. Awareness of the meaning and significance of a particular sensory stimulus as modified by ones own experiences, knowledge, thoughts, and emotions. |
creative synthesis |
According to Wundt, the ability to willfully arrange the elements of thought into any number of configurations. Psychological elements are not a mere sum of elements, but a combination of associations including new attributes not predictable from the sum of the elements. |
Difference threshold |
The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time. We experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference. |
element |
an abstraction referring to a simple irreducible sensation |
Gustav Theodor Fechner |
Expanded Weber's Law by showing that, for just noticeable differences to vary arithmetically, the magnitude of a stimulus must vary geometrically. Set a systematic approach to psycho-physics |
Fechners Law |
it states that the magnitude of a sensory experience is proportional to the number if JNDs that the stimulus causing the experiences above absolute threshold |
Hermann Helmholtz |
structuralist; developed stimulus. developed physiology. Advanced a theory of color in the eye called trichromatic. Also advanced a theory of pitch perception and was the first to measure the speed of conduction of nervous impulses |
heterogony of ends |
Wundt's position that an ongoing behavioral sequence must often be understood in terms of an ever shifting pattern of primary and secondary goals.For example a cat chasing a mouse may suddenly find in necessary to compete with a partner, overcome an unexpected barrier or avoid a danger. Ends, goals and purpose keep changing |
hylozoism |
the belief that all physical matter has life and feeling |
just noticeable difference |
- smallest physical difference b/w 2 stimuli that can be recognized as a difference |
Emil Kraepelin |
argued that physical factors, such as fatigue, are responsible for mental dysfunction. He constructed the first modern system for classifying abnormal behavior identifying various syndromes (clusters of symptoms), listing their physical causes, discussing their expected course, and even measuring the effects of various drugs on abnormal behavior. |
Rudolph Lotze |
first book in psy - Medizinische psychologio oder physiologie der seele
-Also advanced an early theory of space perception |
James Maxwell |
discovered electromagnetic waves; realized light was a type of electromagnetic wave |
method of average error |
participant manipulates variable stimulus until it appears to match a standard stimulus |
method of constant stimuli |
A psychophysical method in which a number of stimuli with different intensities are presented repeatedly in a random order. |
method of limits |
A psychophysical method for measuring threshold in which the experimenter presents stimuli in alternating ascending and descending order |
ophthalmoscope |
instrument used to examine the interior of the eye
Helmholtz |
psychophysics |
The study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them. |
response compression |
(Similar to Fechner's law) As intensity is increased, the magnitude increases, but not as rapidly as the intensity. i.e. brightness |
sensation |
Wundt: an element of consciousness referring to simple awareness of stimulation |
stereoscope |
A microscope with two eyepieces that allows us to see fine detail in 3 dimensional objects and specimens. |
theory of local signs |
A hypothetical sensory representation by means of which one can detect the position or locus of one part of a sensory surface relative to other points on that surface |
threshold |
Level at which the stimulus is detectable at least 50% of the time at a given frequency |
tridimensional theory of feeling |
Wundt's theory, based on his personal introspective observations working with a metronome, that every elementary feeling could be described in terms of its location along three dimensions: subjective feelings of (1) pleasure-displeasure, (2) tension-relaxation, and (3) excitement-depression - these were the mental elements of feeling. HAS NOT withstood the test of time. |
voluntarism |
The name given to Wundt's school of psychology because of his belief that, through the process of apperception, individuals could direct their attention toward whatever they wished. |
Ernst Weber |
1795-1878; Field: perception; Contributions: just-noticeable-difference (JND) that eventually becomes Weber's law; Studies: 1st study on JND |
Weber's law |
The principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount) |
Lightner Witmer |
American psychologist who established the first psychological clinic in the United States, focusing on problems of mentally deficient children |
Wilhelm Wundt |
"Father of modern psychology."He opened the first lab ever to be exclusively devoted to psychological studies. He believed that scientific psychology should focus on analyzing consciousness, adopted an approach called structuralism, and developed introspection |
Thomas Young |
Conducted the double-slit experiment which established the wave-theory of light |
Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory |
Light is detected by 3 types of cones each specifically sensitive to red, blue, or green. When light strikes retina, each of these types of receptors responds and sends info to brain. Criticism: insufficient neurological explanations. |
Fetchner |
professor of physics moved to philosophy
creator of psycho-physics:believed that psychology could be a quantified science |
Washburn |
empiricist-comparitive psychology
first grad student of Titchner- First female to recieve PHD in psychology
President of APA in 1921 |
psycho-physics |
The study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them. |
introspection |
A method of self-observation in which participants report their thoughts and feelings |
act psychology |
Brentano's system of psychology, which focused on mental activities (e.g., seeing) rather than on mental contents (e.g., that which is seen). |
affect (affection) |
According to Titchener early theory affections are the elementary mental processes associated with emotions |
attributes of elementary mental processes |
`, the features of elementary processes: sensation - quality, intensity, duration and clearness; images have the same four but are "paler"; affect - quality (pleasantness and unpleasantness), intensity and duration but no clearness |
Franz Brentano |
Act Psychology, introspection should be used to understand functions of the mind rather then the elements, Mental acts intend |
context theory of meaning |
Titchener's contention that a sensation is given meaning by the images it elicits. That is, for Tirchener, meaning is determined by the law of contiguity |
desire |
Brentano- a way of being conscious of an object marked by attraction or repulsion |
Ebbinghaus forgetting curve |
Model showing that forgetting occurs most rapidly shortly after learning and then gradually declines over time., A forgetting curve that determines that we lose about 2/3 of information in first hour of learning; though the rate of forgetting levels off after a few days |
Ebbinghaus |
19th century German philosopher who was first to demonstrate it was possible to study memory experimentally.
-created the "forgetting curve"- much of what we learn we may quickly forget, course of forgetting is initially rapid then levels off with time; learned lists of nonsense syllabus and measured how much he retained when relearning each lists |
imageless thought |
Külpe's idea that meaning in thought can occur without any sensory or imaginal component. |
James-Lange theory of emotion |
Experience of emotion is awareness of physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli
-Claims that bodily reactions to situations cause emotions. First, physiological responses are present in situations then we feel the emotion that comes with these bodily reactions. We feel scared because we are trembling. |
judgement |
Brentano- consciousness of an object marked by belief or disbelief |
Kulpe |
Student of Wundt: Founder of early psychology laboratory and school of thought. Image-less thought challenged the simplistic characteristics of other early systems |
mental set |
A tendency to approach a problem in one particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past |
Muller |
-German Psycho-physicist who did work on memory, learning, and vision. |
presentation |
Brentano- Consciousness of an object marked by simple awareness of the presence of an object |
primary attention |
Titchener, involuntary and typically activated by a sudden or strong stimulus |
secondary attention |
According to Titchener, secondary attention is learned and persits under difficult conditions (staying alert while studying even under noisy circumstances |
structuralism |
An early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the elemental structure of the human mind.
(Titchener) |
Carl Stumpf |
classified experience into phenomena and functions; phenomenology (study of phenomena-colors, tones); functions-brentano's acts (study of these=basis of psych); investigated phenomena mostly; basis for gestalt psych |
Titchener |
British psychologist who studied with Wundt; opened laboratory at Cornell; focused on identifying the basic elements of consciousness (Structuralism) rather than the relationship between them |
William James |
1842-1910; Field: functionalism; Contributions: studied how humans use perception to function in our environment; Studies: Pragmatism, The Meaning of Truth
-1st American psychologist
- Viewed the mind as a stream which cannot be meaningfully broken down into distinct component |
functional autonomy |
Gordon Allport's term for a behavior that has become detached from its motive in the person's earlier life and is now a goal in itself |
functionalism |
A school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes function - how they enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish. |
material self |
Bodily self; material extensions of the self- other people, pets, possessions, places, accomplishments; reflect psychological ownership |
pluralism |
A condition in society in which many ethnic, religious, or social groups coexist within a common civilization while keeping individual traditions. |
pragmatism |
A philosophy which focuses only on the outcomes and effects of processes and situations. |
primary memory |
Consists of what we are aware of in the 'immediate present moment'; often termed the 'immediate memory' or 'short term memory' |
radical empiricism |
pragmatist doctrine put forth by William James. James' factual statement is that our experience isn't just a stream of data, it's a complex process that's full of meaning. We see objects in terms of what they mean to us and we see causal connections between phenomena |
secondary memory |
A type of memory that allows a user to store data and programs for as long as desired, in, for example, a hard disk drive. |
self-esteem |
How one views oneself, a feeling of good will with regard to how you feel about yourself; pride; confidence- William James |
social self |
Your concept of self as developed through your personal, social interactions with others. |
spiritual self |
your concept of self based on your beliefs and your sense of who you are in relationship to other forces in the universe; also includes your thoughts and introspection about your values and moral standards |
stream of thought |
how scientist William James referred to consciousness
-flow of thoughts in the conscious mind. The full range of thoughts that one can be aware of can form the content of this stream, not just verbal thoughts. |
variability hypothesis |
The notion that men show a wider range and variation of physical and mental development than women; the abilities of women are seen as more average` |
behaviorism |
A theoretical orientation based on the premise that scientific psychology should study only observable behavior |
action at a distance |
any apparent effect for which one cannot readily identify material and efficient causes |
Ivan Pavlov |
1891-1951; Field: Gastroenterology; Contributions: developed foundation for classical conditioning, discovered that a UCS naturally elicits a reflexive behavior; Studies: dog salivation |
John Watson |
American psychologist who founded behaviorism, emphasizing the study of observable behavior and rejecting the study of mental processes
-little Albert |
Sechenov |
Physiologist: Who said that behavior results from environmental stimuli that cause chain reactions in the brain and produce action. |
Five Schools of behaviorism |
Methodological behaviorism, neo-behaviorism, cognitive behaviorism, radical behaviorism, social learning |
Thorndike |
Created the law of effect-connections are strengthened through practice and weakened through disuse. Exercise alone controls the fate of connections |
Neo-Behaviorism |
a transitional group, bridging the gap between behaviorism and cognitive theories of learning. timulus-Response; Intervening Internal Variables; Purposive Behavior |
Clark Hull |
1884-1952; Field: motivation; Contributions: maintains that the goal of all motivated behavior is the reduction or alleviation of a drive state, mechanism through which reinforcement operates |
Edward Tolman |
Cognitive psychologist; Latent Learning & cognitive maps in rats
, American psychologist who used the terms cognitive map and latent learning too describe experimental findings that strongly suggested that cognitive factors play a role in animal learning.
-Cognitive Psychologist |
B.F. Skinner |
Learning; Concepts: Operant conditioning, chaining; Study Basics: Trained animals to do complex behaviors; e.g. making pigeons exhibit superstitious behavior
-A psychologist who conducted experiements to investigate operant conditioing. He invented the operant conditioning chamber., 1904-1990; Field: behavioral; Contributions: created techniques to manipulate the consequences of an organism's behavior in order to observe the effects of subsequent behavior; Studies: Skinner box |
connectionism |
The term often used to describe Thorndike's theory of learning because of its concern with the neural bonds or connections that associate sense impressions and impulses to action. |
law of exercise |
connections are strengthened through practice and weakened through disuse. Exercise alone controls the fate of connections |
law of effect |
Thorndike; used in an experiment with cats and a puzzle box; principle of reinforcement; behavior consistently rewarded will be 'stamped in' as learned behavior, and behavior that brings about discomfort will be 'stamped out'; satisfying effect (reinforcement) is likely to be performed again, whereas behavior that brings about negative effect (punishment) is likely to be suppressed |
equivalent phase |
a Pavlovian term referring to the tendency of a subject to respond in a highly stereotypical fashion to any stimulus. the equivalent phase may follow a biological insult that produces a shocklike reaction. in such circumstances, the subject may respond in the same way to all signals. |
McDougall |
Psychologist with very broad ranging interests in social, abnormal, and philosophical psychology. Study of purposive behavior and role of instincts. |
operant conditioning |
A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher. |
Gestalt Psychologists |
a group of psychologists who proposed principles governing perception, such as laws of organization, and a perceptual approach to problem solving involving restructuring, Wertheimer, Koffka, Kohler |
Gestalt |
An organized whole. Gestalt psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.-No specific definition |
Wertheimer |
Founded Gestalt psychology- Emigrated to US during Nazi Power. Considered Gestalt Psychology move of a world view than a system in psychology |
Kohler |
A Gestalt psychologist who helped developed insight learning based on experiments with a chimp (Chip "Sulton") trying to get bananas, and also came up with the theory of isomorphism |
Koffka |
Published an early textbook on Gestalt psychology which studied perception, and and how humans combine parts into wholes |
What Gestalts Thought |
Philosophy- empirical and rational, begins with natural flows of experience that we attend to.
Psychology- Christian von Ehrenfels, influenced Wertheimer of Whole Part Problem |
Phi Phenomena |
an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession |
approach- approach conflict |
A choice must be made between two attractive goals. |
approach-avoidance conflict |
Conflict that results from having to choose an alternative that has both attractive and unappealing aspects |
avoidance-avoidance conflict |
Conflict that results from having to choose between two distasteful alternatives |
closure |
The Gestalt principle that identifies the tendency to fill in gaps in figures and to see incomplete figures as complete |
field theory |
Paying attention to and exploring what is occurring at the boundary between the person and the environment. |
figure ground |
the organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground). |
functional fixedness |
The tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions; an impediment to problem solving. |
good continuation |
A factor in visual grouping; we tend to perceive contours in a way that alters their direction as little as possible |
insight |
A sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem; it contrasts with strategy-based solutions. |
isomorphism |
a constraining process that forces one organization to resemble others that face the same set of environmental conditions. |
life space |
Lewin; collection of forces (valence, vector, barrier) on the individual, field of perception and action |
phi phenomenon |
an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in succession |
productive thinking |
According to Wertheimer, the type of thinking that ponders principles rather than isolated facts and that aims at understanding the solutions to problems rather than memorizing a certain problem-solving strategy or logical rules |
reproductive thinking |
entails the application of tried-and-true paths to a solution. The thinker reproduces a series of steps that are known to yield a workable answer by using rote memory |
psychoanalysis |
A lengthy insight therapy that was developed by Freud and aims at uncovering conflicts and unconscious impulses through special techniques, including free association, dream analysis, and transference. |
Sigmund Freud |
1856-1939; Field: psychoanalytic, personality; Contributions: id/ego/superego, reality and pleasure principles, ego ideal, defense mechanisms (expanded by Anna Freud), psychoanalysis, transference
-Interpretation of Dreams |
Mental Iceberg |
The conscious level (visible) part of the iceberg is only a small fraction of our entire mind. Most of it lies on the water in either the preconscious level (memories, stored knowledge) or unconscious level. Thought up by Freud |
Neurotic Anxiety |
according to Freud, anxiety that occurs when one is repeatedly prevented from expressing one's ID impulses |
Reality Anxiety |
The fear of danger from the external world; the level of such anxiety is proportionate to the degree of real threat |
Moral Anxiety |
The fear of one's own conscience; people with a well-developed conscience tend to feel guilty when they do something contrary to their moral code |
Defense Mechanisms of the Ego |
Repression- put it all in the unconscious
Projection- attribute it to others
Regression- go back to childhood
Reaction Formation- emphasizes the opposite |
stages of sexual development |
oral (mouth), anal(elimination of feicies), phallic (genitals), latency(none),& genital(genitals)
, Infancy to Early Childhood, School-age years, Pubery/Adolescence, Young Adulthood, Middle Adulthood, Older Adulthood |
Alfred Adler |
1870-1937; Field: neo-Freudian, psychodynamic; Contributions: basic mistakes, style of life, inferiority/superiority complexes, childhood influences personality formation; Studies: Birth Order |
Karen Horney |
1885-1952; Field: neo-Freudian, psychodynamic; Contributions: criticized Freud, stated that personality is molded by current fears and impulses, rather than being determined solely by childhood experiences and instincts, neurotic trends |
Carl Jung |
1875-1961; Field: neo-Freudian, analytic psychology; Contributions: people had conscious and unconscious awareness; archetypes; collective unconscious; libido is all types of energy, not just sexual; Studies: dream studies/interpretation |
aesthetic mode of existence |
According to Kierkeguard, the emphasis on sensual or intellectual pleasure. This mode breeds indifference and boredom an the collapse into melancholy and despair. |
Gordon Allport |
A psychologist perhaps best-known as one of the founding figures of personality psychology. He also developed a trait theory of personality that described three broad categories of personality traits. |
Franz Brentano |
Act Psychology, introspection should be used to understand functions of the mind rather then the elements, Mental acts intend |
Dasein |
a person exists in a particular place at a particular time - the individual can be conscious of and responsible for his or her existence. |
disciplined naivete |
The attempt to approach the phenomena of consciousness while suspending presuppositions si that such phenomena may be captured in their givenness. |
ethical mode of existence |
According to Kierkeguard, the ethical mode of existence is marked by deep concerns for justice, genuine and caring moral concerns, and a capacity to shoulder responsibility. In the face of moral complexities and absurdities, the ethical mode of existence may collapse into a profound sense of irony |
existentialism |
A philosophical approach that emphasizes the inevitable dilemmas and challenges of human existence. |
idiographic |
Pertaining to the unique facts or characteristics of a certain place |
learned ignorance |
A concept coming out of the work of Nicholas of Cusa referring to learning how not to think of God. Applied to psychology, the term could refer to the discipline of learning how not to think of ourselves. |
lockean tradition |
Allport's expression referring to deterministic and mechanistic approaches to psychology according to which human beings are regarded as primarily reactive or as mere products of social conditioning |
logotherapy |
Developed by Viktor Frankl, a brand of existential therapy that literally means "healing through reason"; focuses on challenging members to search for the meaning in life. |
Abraham Maslow |
1908-1970; Field: humanism; Contributions: hierarchy of needs-needs at a lower level dominate an individual's motivation as long as they are unsatisfied, self-actualization, transcendence |
nomothetic |
emphasizes statistical abstractions |
Carl Rogers |
1902-1987; Field: humanistic; Contributions: founded person-centered therapy, theory that emphasizes the unique quality of humans especially their freedom and potential for personal growth, unconditional positive regard, fully functioning person |
Floyd Allport |
Published the first social psychology textbook in 1942, becoming the year this field was truly recognized. |
Solomon Asch |
1907-1996; Field: social psychology; Contributions: studied conformity, found that individuals would conform even if they knew it was wrong; Studies: conformity, opinions and social pressures |
autokinetic effect |
illusion, caused by very slight movements of the eye, that a stationary point of light in a dark room is moving |
behavioral genetics |
An interdisciplinary field that studies the effects of genes and heredity on behavior. |
boulder model |
he model for current clinical training that recommends doctoral programs train clinical psychologists as research-practitioners w/ solid bgrounds in general and clinical psych, extensive supervised exp, and research exp. |
cognitive psychology |
an approach to psychology that emphasizes internal mental processes |
ecological validity |
The extent to which a study is realistic or representative of real life. |
information-processing metaphor |
A theory that emphasizes that individuals manipulate information, monitor it, and strategize about it. The processes of memory and thinking are central |
learning set |
used by Harry Harlow in an experiment using Rhesus monkeys; ability to become increasingly more effective in solving problems as problems are solved; learning how to learn; Köhler's chimps, Epstein's pigeons |
mentalism |
An approach to explaining behavior that assumes that a mental, or "inner," dimension exists that differs from a behavioral dimension and that phenomena in this dimension either directly cause or at least mediate some forms of behavior, if not all (Source: CHH, 2 Ed). |