Etymology
The word "stimulus" is derived from the Latin word "stimulus," which means "goad" or "prick." It is related to the verb "stimulare," meaning "to prod or spur."
Meaning and Origin
In psychology, a stimulus is any object, event, or situation that elicits a response or reaction from an organism. Stimuli can be external (e.g., light, sound, heat) or internal (e.g., thoughts, emotions).
The concept of stimulus was first introduced by the physiologist Johannes Müller in the 19th century. Müller proposed that every stimulus elicits a specific sensation, and that the intensity of the sensation is proportional to the strength of the stimulus. This idea is known as Müller's law.
Stimulus-response psychology, which dominated psychology in the early 20th century, emphasized the role of external stimuli in shaping behavior. According to this theory, all behavior is simply a reaction to stimuli in the environment. However, later research showed that internal stimuli, such as thoughts and emotions, can also influence behavior.
Today, the concept of stimulus is still used in psychology to refer to any object or event that elicits a response from an organism. However, the emphasis is now more on how the organism interprets and responds to stimuli, rather than simply on the physical characteristics of the stimulus itself.
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Etymology The word stimulus is derived from the Latin word stimulus which means goa
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