Psychology of Music Learning

Miksza

Historical Foundations of Psychology

Generic Definition:

• Psychology - the study of the mind and mental processes…

• Deep roots in philosophy, particularly epistemology and metaphysics…

Epistemological Roots

• Rationalism – Descartes/Kant– Innate reasoning

• Empiricism - Locke– Blank slate

• Naturalism - Rousseau

Metaphysical Considerations

• Mind and Body Relationships– Monism

• Materialism• Idealism

– Dualism - Descartes

Characteristics of Good Science

Scientific Method - induction, deduction, hypotheses, theory, principle, law

– Objectivity– Testability, Refutability, Verifiability– Prediction– Parsimonious– Generalization– Fits within/builds upon existing body of knowledge– Useful Application

Early Theories and Figures

• Associationism– Mill

• Charles Darwin– Adaptive function– On the Origin of the Species (1859)

• Herman von Helmholz– Unconscious inference– On the Sensations of Tone (1863)

Introspectionism

• Wilhelm Wundt– Introspectionist methodology– Early laws– Basic mental processes– Influential students

Structuralism

• Edward Titchenor• Student of Wundt

– Introspective method– Stimulus error– Images, sensations, affect– Imageless elements

Functionalism

• James Angell– Critic of Structuralist mission

• Student… Watson

• John Dewey– Pragmatist, educational philosopher

• William James• Student of Helmholz

– Adaptive process– Contiguity– Frequency– Lack of concern for study of conscious

• Student… Thorndike