History of Psychology Unit 3 Erin Hunt-Carter, PhD

History of PsychologyHistory of PsychologyUnit 3Unit 3

Erin Hunt-Carter, PhDErin Hunt-Carter, PhD

Class BusinessClass Business

Week 1 is gradedWeek 1 is graded Reading is Chapter 4 and pages 163-171Reading is Chapter 4 and pages 163-171 eBook is available in doc sharingeBook is available in doc sharing Flex seminarFlex seminar

Erin Hunt-Carter (me) 1:00 PM WednesdaysErin Hunt-Carter (me) 1:00 PM Wednesdays Anne Shea 12:00 PM WednesdaysAnne Shea 12:00 PM Wednesdays Leia King-Carr 8:00 PM MondaysLeia King-Carr 8:00 PM Mondays

Questions before we get started?Questions before we get started?

GermanyGermany

Why was Germany the epicenter of Why was Germany the epicenter of psychological science in the 1800s?psychological science in the 1800s? General milieu placing emphasis on scientific General milieu placing emphasis on scientific

methodmethod Lots of universitiesLots of universities

• Reform movementReform movement They cast a broad net, other European countries They cast a broad net, other European countries

more strictly defined “science.”more strictly defined “science.”

Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt

Lived from1832-1920Lived from1832-1920 Many consider him the father of Many consider him the father of

psychological science, also founded social psychological science, also founded social psychology.psychology.

What was he like as a person?What was he like as a person?

--Was a daydreamer and a bit of a weirdo.--Was a daydreamer and a bit of a weirdo.

-- Failed a year of high school.-- Failed a year of high school.

Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt

Not only a scientist but a Not only a scientist but a promoterpromoter.. Leipzig, GermanyLeipzig, Germany Taught first psychology class everTaught first psychology class ever Opened one of first labs (1879)Opened one of first labs (1879) Edited first journal, Edited first journal, Psychological Studies Psychological Studies

(originally titled (originally titled Philosophical StudiesPhilosophical Studies).).

Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt Wrote Wrote Principles of Physiological PsychologyPrinciples of Physiological Psychology

Translation issue: physiological really meant Translation issue: physiological really meant

experimentalexperimental Revised this important book six times, essentially Revised this important book six times, essentially

worked on it for the rest of his life.worked on it for the rest of his life.

What did Wundt Believe?What did Wundt Believe?

Psychological processes must be broken into small Psychological processes must be broken into small “elements.”“elements.”

VoluntarismVoluntarism-how we organize small elements of -how we organize small elements of thought into higher-order processes (emotions, thought into higher-order processes (emotions, learning, etc.).learning, etc.).

IntrospectionIntrospection

Systematic investigation of one’s own mental Systematic investigation of one’s own mental state.state.

VERY controlled.VERY controlled. Mediate experiences Mediate experiences give us information about give us information about

something more than the elements.something more than the elements. Immediate elements Immediate elements give us information that is give us information that is

raw data, not influenced by our interpretations.raw data, not influenced by our interpretations.

ExampleExample

Eating a piece of meatloaf.Eating a piece of meatloaf.

Mediate experience: Mediate experience: “This is delicious! It is “This is delicious! It is cheesy and reminds me of the meatloaf my mom cheesy and reminds me of the meatloaf my mom used to make.”used to make.”

Immediate experience: Immediate experience: “This tastes moderately “This tastes moderately savory, and mildly sweet. It is soft, but not mushy. savory, and mildly sweet. It is soft, but not mushy. It is approximately 120 degrees farenheit.” It is approximately 120 degrees farenheit.”


Also called internal perception.Also called internal perception. ““The examination of one’s own mental state The examination of one’s own mental state

(Schultz & Schultz, 2002, p. 80).”(Schultz & Schultz, 2002, p. 80).” Highly trained observers, concentrating on the taskHighly trained observers, concentrating on the task Needed to be manipulableNeeded to be manipulable Needed to be replicableNeeded to be replicable


ExamplesExamples Size, weight, loudness, brightness, duration, etc. Size, weight, loudness, brightness, duration, etc.

http://humanityhealing.net/2010/09/pineal-gland-the-transcendental-gateway/

Studied the experience of listening to a Studied the experience of listening to a metronomemetronome

We experience rhthym, which is more than We experience rhthym, which is more than the sum of individual beats.the sum of individual beats. Apperception (synethesis!)Apperception (synethesis!)

Wundt and the metronomeWundt and the metronome

Wundt and the metronomeWundt and the metronome

Anticipated next beatAnticipated next beat Noticed tension and reliefNoticed tension and relief Slow rhythms felt sadSlow rhythms felt sad Some rhythms are more pleasantSome rhythms are more pleasant

Tridimensional Theory of FeelingsTridimensional Theory of Feelings

Pleasant

Unpleasant

TenseRelaxed

Excited

Depressed

Wundt’s LimitationsWundt’s Limitations

Failed to emphasize practical applications of Failed to emphasize practical applications of the sciencethe science

Was very supportive of Germany during Was very supportive of Germany during WWI. WWI.

Hermann EbbinghausHermann Ebbinghaus Lived 1850-1909Lived 1850-1909 Was an outsiderWas an outsider

No students, no lab, no professorship, No students, no lab, no professorship, no mentors.no mentors.

http://picus.sns.it/biblioteche_dei_filosofi/index.php?page=Filosofo&id=29&lang=en&PHPSESSID=bkqppimcb

EbbinghausEbbinghaus

First to study learning and memoryFirst to study learning and memory Wundt said it was impossible to do this.Wundt said it was impossible to do this. Can be considered a father of cognitive Can be considered a father of cognitive

psychology.psychology.

Hermann EbbinghausHermann Ebbinghaus

Studied learning using nonsense syllablesStudied learning using nonsense syllables Was interested in the number of repetitions Was interested in the number of repetitions

required to memorize material.required to memorize material.

Memorization exerciseMemorization exercise

The brown cat was a big fat girl.The brown cat was a big fat girl.

Memorization ExerciseMemorization Exercise

FihFih

PibPib

WolWol

HuyHuy

BaxBax

FawFaw

VemVem

CiqCiq

William JamesWilliam James

Lived 1842-1910Lived 1842-1910 First and arguably most important American First and arguably most important American

PsychologistPsychologist

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/68891/William-James


He was controversial, and widely disliked.He was controversial, and widely disliked. Why?Why?

A snarky, self-indulgent, unfocused, physically A snarky, self-indulgent, unfocused, physically frail and neurotic little rich boy. And I adore him!frail and neurotic little rich boy. And I adore him!

He bucked against Wundt, studying XXX.He bucked against Wundt, studying XXX. He was also involved in the study of the He was also involved in the study of the

paranormal. paranormal.


Was motivated by his own depression to study Was motivated by his own depression to study psychology.psychology. Neurasthenia-Everyone who is anyone had it. : )Neurasthenia-Everyone who is anyone had it. : )

Wrote Wrote The Principles of PsychologyThe Principles of Psychology Taught first experimental psych course in the Taught first experimental psych course in the

US US


Was a big picture thinker.Was a big picture thinker. Bucked against Wundt’s belief in elements.Bucked against Wundt’s belief in elements. Basically said Wundt’s methods were artificial, Basically said Wundt’s methods were artificial,

and not applicable to the real world.and not applicable to the real world. Emphasized complex nature of Emphasized complex nature of

psychology.psychology. Stream of consciousness: The idea that Stream of consciousness: The idea that

our experience of the world is dynamic our experience of the world is dynamic and not reducable.and not reducable.


PragmatismPragmatism Emphasized the importance of practical applications and Emphasized the importance of practical applications and

consequences.consequences.

Theory of EmotionTheory of Emotion Bodily experience leads to emotion, not vice versa.Bodily experience leads to emotion, not vice versa. Anxiety disordersAnxiety disorders The bridge experimentThe bridge experiment

Questions?Questions?

Documents

History of Psychology Unit 3 Erin Hunt-Carter, PhD