Psych 397 Chapter 10

Front 1

Aesthesiometer

Back 1

A compasslike 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.

Front 2

Apperception

Back 2

In Wundt's psychology, an apperception is an active set of associations marked by intelligent direction within a larger context. A simple associative combination such as sky and blue would be counted simply as a perception. Apperception, by contrast, carries far more meaning. Thus, a statement such as "If the weather is clear in the morning, we will go sailing" denotes an intelligent direction within a context.

Front 3

Creative Synthesis

Back 3

The principle advanced by Wundt that psychical combinations are not a mere sum of elements. Rather, a combination of associations includes new attributes not predictable from the sum of the elements.

Front 4

Difference Threshold

Back 4

The minimal stimulus difference that is detectable 50% of the time.

Front 5

Element

Back 5

An abstraction referring to a simple irreducible sensation.

Front 6

Gustav Theodor Fechner (1801-1887)

Back 6

His Elements of Psychophysics, one of the great original classics in psychology, set forth a systematic approach to psychophysics. He proposed several early psychophysical methods and helped lay the conceptual and methodological foundations for the new discipline of psychology.

Front 7

Fechner's Law

Back 7

An integration of Weber's formula expressed as S = k log R, where S is a mental sensation and R is a stimulus magnitude. Thus, according to the law a mental sensation is a logarithmic function of the stimulus multiplied by a constant.

Front 8

Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz (1821-1894)

Back 8

One of the great scientists of the 19th century who, along with Thomas Young, advanced a trichromatic theory of colour vision. He also advanced a theory of pitch perception and was the first to measure the speed of conduction of the nervous impulse.

Front 9

Heterogony of Ends

Back 9

Wundt's position that an ongoing behavioural 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 it necessary to compete with a partner, overcome an unexpected barrier or avoid a danger. Ends, goals, and purposes keep changing.

Front 10

Hylozoism

Back 10

The view that mind is manifested in all material movement.

Front 11

Just Noticeable Difference (JND)

Back 11

The smallest detectable difference between a standard stimulus and a comparison stimulus.

Front 12

Emil Kraepelin (1856-1926)

Back 12

A student of Wundt. He created an influential classification system of psychiatric disorders and made numerous contributions to psychiatry and psychopharmacology.

Front 13

Rudolph Hermann Lotze (1817-1881)

Back 13

Wrote the first treatise on physiological psychology. He also advanced an early theory of space perception.

Front 14

James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879)

Back 14

Scottish physicist who demonstrated that he could match any spectral value with various mixtures of red, green or blue. He thus contributed directly to the Young-Helmholtz theory of colour vision.

Front 15

Method of Average Error

Back 15

A psychophysical method that permits a participant to manipulate a variable stimulus until it appears to match a standard stimulus.

Front 16

Method of Constant Stimuli

Back 16

A psychophysical method in which comparison stimuli are judged against a standard stimulus. Various values of the comparison stimuli above and below the standard stimulus are presented on a random basis. The task of the participant is to specify whether each comparison stimulus is equal to, greater than, or less than the standard.

Front 17

Method of Limits

Back 17

A psychophysical method whereby a standard stimulus is compared with various values of comparison stimuli presented in both ascending and descending series. The task of the particpant is to specify when the standard and the variable appear to be the same. Also called the method of limits because it measure the quantitative limits of the variable stimulus values that appear to be greater than, less than or equal to the standard stimulus.

Front 18

Ophthalmoscope

Back 18

An instrument designed by Hermann von Helmholtz for viewing the interior of the eye, especially the retina.

Front 19

Psychophysics

Back 19

The formal study of the relationship between the properties of stimuli as measured by a physical scale and the psychological impressions of those stimuli.

Front 20

Response Compression

Back 20

In psychophysics, equal intervals on a physical scale may be experienced as a diminishing series. Illustrated in the experience of a diminishing series associated with a three-way light.

Front 21

Sensation

Back 21

According to Wundt, an element of consciousness referring to simple awareness of stimulation.

Front 22

Stereoscope

Back 22

An instrument that produces a three-dimensional effect by simultaneously presenting slightly different two-dimensional views the the left and right eyes.

Front 23

Theory of Local Signs

Back 23

A hypothetical sensory representation by means of which one can detect the position of locus of one part of a sensory surface relative to other points on that surface.

Front 24

Threshold

Back 24

That stimulus intensity (or change in intensity) that is detected 50% of the time.

Front 25

Tridimensional Theory of Feeling

Back 25

According to Wundt, a theory of feeling marked by three fundamental directions; pleasure and pain, strain and relaxation and excitation and quiescence.

Front 26

Voluntarism

Back 26

Technical term for the system of psychology advanced by Wilhelm Wundt. Voluntary behaviours are those that are varied to meet the demands of varying circumstances.

Front 27

Ernst Heinrich Weber (1795-1878)

Back 27

Well-known 19th century physiologist who was the first to establish a quantitative relationship between the physical properties of stimuli and the experience of those stimuli. Weber's book, The Sense of Touch, launched the field of psychophysics.

Front 28

Weber's Illusion

Back 28

The perception that two points of a compass appear to move apart when the compass is moved over an insensitive area of the skin. By contrast, the two points appear to move together when the compass is moved over sensitive areas of the skin.

Front 29

Weber's Law

Back 29

First quantitative law in psychology expressed as "triangle R"/R = K, where R = the amount of existing simulation, "triangle R" = the amount of stimulation that must be added to produce a JND, and K = a constant.

Front 30

Lightner Witmer (1867-1956)

Back 30

One of Wundt's students. Founded the first psychological clinic and coined the expression clinical psychology.

Front 31

Wilhelm Maximillian Wundt (1832-1920)

Back 31

The founder of the first psychological laboratory that functioned for a sustained period of time. Wundt also advanced the first systematic vision of psychology known as voluntarism. He is also the first person who, without qualification, can be thought of as a psychologist. His Principles of Physiological Psychology is one of the great classics in the discipline. More than any other, he can be viewed as the founder of modern psychology.

Front 32

Thomas Young (1773-1829)

Back 32

English physiologist who formulated the trichromatic model of colour vision. He speculated that retinal structures must therefore be specialized for colour primaries.

Front 33

Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory

Back 33

Young's theory that colour vision is produced by separate receptor systems on the retina that are responsive to primary colours. Maxwell and Helmholtz supported Young's theory in the 19th century.