“The Origins of Psychology” - Discussion Questions

As you read the article make note of answers to the following questions. We will be discussing them in class. You do not need to write them down, just pay attention to what you read! (Hint: you could write the question numbers on the article, highlight or make some other type of notation)

  1. Accordingto the article, in order to understand psychology what do you need to do?
  1. What part of the lifespan are psychologistsconcerned with?
  1. From what two fields of study was psychology trying to separate?
  1. Why do you think the fields referenced in #3 serve as the foundation for psychology?
  1. Provide thoughtful answers with explanations to the five questions psychologists face. (answers are not in the article…THINK!!!)
  2. What topics and issues should psychology be concerned with?
  3. What research methods should be used to study psychology?
  4. Should psychologists use research to influence public policy, education, and other aspects of human behavior?
  5. Is psychology really a science?
  6. Should psychology focus on observable behaviors, or on internal mental processes?
  1. When did psychology emerge as its own field?
  1. Which ancient civilization provided psychology with many of its original questions?
  1. Who introduced the idea of dualism?
  1. What is dualism?
  1. Explain the nurture vs. nature argument (it’s not in the article…THINK!)
  1. According to the article, how does psychology differ from philosophy?
  1. How did physiology lend itself to the emergence of psychology as a separate discipline?
  1. Regarding the “official” start of psychology…
  2. What event marked the beginning?
  3. Who is most closely associated with this event?
  4. When did the event occur?
  5. Where did the event occur?
  6. In what field was the founder originally working?
  7. What was the founder’s focus?
  8. What tool did he use?
  1. Which student of Wundt’s brought psychology to America?
  1. Identify and explain the school of thought founded by this student.
  1. Who is regarded as the founder of American psychology?
  1. Identify and explain the school of thought founded by the American psychologist referenced in # 15.
  1. What’s the major difference between the two schools of thought referenced in #14 and # 16?
  1. Identify the book that Freud wrote.
  1. What are the two main factors influencing personality according to Freud?
  1. In the early twentieth century, what was the goal of the behaviorist regarding the path of psychology?
  1. Who is Ivan Pavlov?
  1. What was Pavlov’s contribution to psychology?
  1. Who is John B. Watson?
  1. What were Watson’s thoughts about psychology?
  1. What contribution did B.F Skinner make to the field?
  1. What is the focus of his contribution?
  1. If behaviorism dominated the first fifty years of the twentieth century, after what major historical event did it begin to lose dominance? Not in the article…THINK!
  1. Why is Humanism considered the “Third Force”?
  1. What is the focus of Humanism?
  1. Name one of the two men who are regarded as leaders in the field of Humanism.
  1. Most psychologist today focus on a compilation of ideas instead of just one. What is this type of approach called?

Any additional thoughts on the article? What do you think?