Questions and Answers on Psychology Theories - Paper Example

Outline three contributions of Hermann Helmholtz to the early understanding of physiology

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As a physician, Herman von Helmholtz provided one of the most significant works; how to measure the speed of a nerve impulse. Initially considered impossible, Herman von Helmholtz disapproved the notion that living organisms depended on a vital force instead of "energy." By using a frog's nerve, he calculated the impulse velocity which he got to be one tenth of a sound's speed. In the study of the eye, Herman von Helmholtz invented the ophthalmometer, medical equipment for observing the retina. By use of the device, he advanced the three-color-vision theory, initially proposed by Thomas Young. The theory has helped ophthalmologists to comprehend color blindness. His interest in the human ear led him to study the functioning of how the ear distinguishes tone and pitch. His suggestion that the ear is made in such a way that it is structured to resonate at given frequencies, allowing it to discern between different overtones, tones, and timbres.

Briefly, describe Structuralism as described by E.B. Titchener

According to Edward Bradford, interpretation and analysis of objects arises from a thought process that can be broken into the essential elements, especially sensations. Edward believed that to identify an object, all memories and feelings are put together that involves taste, smell, texture, color, and shape that would enable one to deduce a given object. In his belief, Edward noted that psychology is a science thus classifying components of thought into facts. By identifying a collection of elements, all feelings towards the item should identifiable. The concept brought forth Edwards interpretation and analysis of human ability as an immediate mental experience, thus focusing on the "is" that delved on facts and not on speculation.

Briefly, outline three contributions of William James to the New Science of Psychology

Believed to be a brilliant scientist, William James theory of emotion, in which he stated that experiencing an event triggers physiological changes in the body, that in turn act as cues for emotions. The fight or flight reaction is attributed to his theory of emotion in which an individual would either fight back or take off in the event of an experience. His book "Principles of Psychology" remains a critical guide to the New Science of Psychology in which the theory of pragmatism is significantly highlighted. According to his pragmatism theory, the significance of thought is autonomous upon its relevance in the real world instead of its absolute truth. Additionally, his contribution to the epistemological theory, which denotes that belief is proper if it is valuable or helpful. He maintained that the theory could be vital in investigating the worthiness of a religious faith or belief by looking into how these beliefs serve others positively worldwide. The epistemological theory has gained prominence and helped many religious leaders in assessing their beliefs about commonly held religious concepts.

Briefly outline three types of popular psychology that existed in America before the beginning of scientific, laboratory psychology. (Note their origins and, where relevant, the person or persons) who were the originators and the practitioners).

James McKeen Cattell and Walter Dill Scott are recognized as the pioneers of industrial psychology in early 1919. Although it is traced to Wilhelm Wundt of Germany, the two remain the most prominent researchers and psychologists who designed the parameters of the working of industrial psychology in which they carried out assessments, testing, and intelligence tests on military personnel to ascertain the industrial side of I/O psychology. After the 1st World War, private individuals and groups tried to emulate the tests on military personnel a concept that brought in mend testing in the workplace.

Clinical psychology entails the integration of clinical skills, theory, and science aimed at promoting the well-being of people and personal growth. It focuses on psychological assessment with less medication. Lightner Witmer, who lived between 1867 and 1956 treated a young lad who had challenges in spoken words. After his treatment, Lightner dedicated his time to treating children with difficulties in spoken words. He coined the term clinical psychology in 1907 at the University of Pennsylvania, which involved the study of persons through observation with the sole purpose of promoting behavioral transformation.

Imprinting Psychology

Imprinting psychology is a type of psychology in which an animal or individual learns a trait a stimulus and occurs at a specific life stage or age. Douglas Spalding is credited with the discovery of imprinting psychology and later revived by Oskar Heinroth. In a typical experiment, Konrad Lorenz followed and observed geese in which the young youngs imprinted on what they saw in their parents. From imprinting, the birds would later be taught fending for themselves and flying. For example, Angelo dArrigo realized that the flying pattern of the nomadic birds was very similar, a model learned from their parents and imprinted with other younger ones later.

Outline the contributions of any three of the other Germans to the New Science of Psychology

Kurt Koffka

Kurt Koffka is credited with the systematization of the Gestalt psychology and its body of theories that later gave rise to the developmental psychology that included ideologies on perception, learning, and interpretation. The approach gave new meaning to the holistic strategy of perception. Together with Mira Klein, the two combined mechanistic psychology with their theories to give meaning to the reduction of experience in perception. His combined contribution saw his Gestalt principles merged with child development.

Wlfgang Kohler

Wlfgang Kohler, a German psychologist from Estonia. He laid the foundation of Gestalk psychology, a method of comprehension by the mind in which focus is paid to the entire entity of a subject instead of the parts. Gestalk thus concentrates on the way the mind perceives an object such as a van. Kohler's psychology expanded the view on looking at an object or issue as a whole instead of focusing on little distractions of the object that may make one miss the details. His contribution opened up new ways of perceiving objects, events, issues in the new science of psychology.

Erik Erikson

Erik Erikson made numerous contributions to the field of psychology that included the notion of an identity crisis. Born and raised in Germany in 1902, Erikson went through a difficult childhood with rejection from neighbors in a complicated relationship with other siblings and adopted by a stepfather. Later in his life, Erikson developed an interest in personality growth and the relationship with societal and parental values. As a result, he is credited with providing a widened scope of the psychoanalytic theory that took a greater version of cultural, social, and experimental aspects. According to Erikson, only individuals who succeed in finding a resolution to their identity would make it successfully in adult life.