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Introspection: examination of ones own thoughts and feelings

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1 Introspection: examination of ones own thoughts and feelings
This idea leads to STRUCTIONALISM December 1879 Wundt’s introspection was not a causal affair but a highly practiced form of self-examination. He trained psychology students to make observations that were biased by personal interpretation or previous experience, and used the results to develop a theory of conscious thought. Psychology as we know it started on a December day in 1879, in a small room on the third floor of a shabby building at Germany’s University of Leipzig. There, two young men were helping a long-faced, austere, middle-aged professor, Wilhelm Wundt, create an experimental apparatus. Their machine measured the time lag between people’s hearing a ball hit a platform and their pressing a telegraph key. Later, the researchers compared this lag to the time required for slightly more complex tasks. Curiously, people responded in about one-tenth of a second when asked to press the key as soon as the sound occurred—and in about two-tenths of a second when asked to press the key as soon as they were aware of perceiving the sound. Wundt was seeking to measure “atoms of the mind”—the fastest and simplest mental processes. Thus began what many consider psychology’s first experiment, launching the first psychology laboratory, staffed by Wundt and psychology’s first graduate students.

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3 Uses introspection to reveal the structure of the mind
Has its basis in Wundt’s European perspective. Titchener established this school of thought based on his work as Wundt’s student in Germany. Devoted to uncovering basic structures that make up mind and thought Breaking things down into parts and examining them as such Report sensations, images, and feelings of objects Criticisms of Structuralism By today’s scientific standards, the experimental methods used to study the structures of the mind were too subjective—the use of introspection led to a lack of reliability in results. Other critics argue that structuralism was too concerned with internal behavior, which is not directly observable and cannot be accurately measured. Strengths of Structuralism Structuralism is important because it is the first major school of thought in psychology. Structuralism also influenced experimental psychology.

4 Explored how the mental and behavioral processes function--- how they enable people to adapt, survive, and flourish Based on James’ ideas about psychology having practical applications to life Believed mental processes could best be understood in terms of their adaptive purpose and function Sensations are only a part of the picture. What about emotions? Our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are adaptive and there is a specific function of these things Functions of Published Psychology’s 1st textbook Introspection with “Umpf” Experiences looking at a rose makes me appreciate nature and want to save the rainforest Experiences smelling a scent makes me hungry... or sick

5 Structuralism vs. Functionalism
Structuralism: Analyze consciousness into its basic elements & how they relate. Titchener continued Wundt's Work Dependent on introspection – careful, systematic self-observation of one’s own conscious experience. Favored: Lab experiments Edward Titchener Functionalism: Investigate the function or purpose of consciousness, rather than its structure. (William James) Influenced by Charles Darwin’s natural selection Favored: How people adapt to real world situations William James

6 Structure vs. Function That’s a carburetor! That mixes air and fuel!

7 Student of William James First female president of the APA
MWC- Professor was William James

8 “The whole is different than
Gestalt Psychology “The whole is different than the sum of its parts.” Max Wertheimer ( ) alexbinetti.wordpress.com How sensations are assembled into perceptual experiences. “Form”

9 Can you read this? This is bcuseae the huammn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh?

10 What is it?? We like to fill in the gaps so that we see objects as wholes.

11 What is psychology’s big historical issue?
Interlock your fingers! Genetically controlled!

12 What are psychology’s levels of analysis?
Differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social- cultural for analyzing different phenomenons

13 The “8th” Perspective Biological Perspective (Nature)
Many psychologists rely on the Biopsychosocial perspective to address and diagnose a variety of patient issues Bio-Psycho-Social Biological Perspective (Nature) Psychodynamic/Cognitive Perspectives (Unconscious/Conscious) Social-cultural Perspective (Nurture)

14 How can psychological principles help you learn and remember, and do better on the AP exam?
Testing effect (retrieving memory by doing practice test/questions) SQ3R – survey, question, read, retrieve, review SPACED STUDY! Overlearn!


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