Psychology of Music Learning

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Psychology of Music Learning

• Miksza - Spring 08
• WEEK ONE
• Historical Foundations of Psychology

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Generic Definition

• Psychology - the study of the mind and mental
  processes
• Deep roots in philosophy, particularly
  epistemology and metaphysics

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Epistemological Roots

• Rationalism Descartes/Kant
• Innate reasoning
• Empiricism - Locke
• Blank slate
• Naturalism - Rousseau

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Metaphysical Considerations

• Mind and Body Relationships
• Monism
• Materialism
• Idealism
• Dualism - Descartes

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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

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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)

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Introspectionism

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

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Structuralism

• Edward Titchenor
• Student of Wundt
• Introspective method
• Stimulus error
• Images, sensations, affect
• Imageless elements

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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