Approaches (AS): Origins

Question 1

17th to 18th Century

Answer 1

Psychology becoming branch of the broader discipline of philosophy

Question 2

1879

Answer 2

Wilhelm Wundt opens first experimental psychology lab in Leipzig Germany and psychology emerges as a distinct discipline

Question 3

1900s

Answer 3

Freud publishes the interpretation of dreams and the psychodynamic approach is born. Emphasises the influence of the unconscious mind, behaviour and psychoanalysis

Question 4

1913

Answer 4

Watson writes psychology as the behaviours that are observed, and Skinner establishes the behaviourist approach

Question 5

1950

Answer 5

Rogers and Abraham develop the humanistic approach. Emphasises the importance of self-determination and free will

Question 6

1960s A

Answer 6

The cognitive revolution came with the introduction of the computer. Reintroduces the study of mental processes in a scientific way

Question 7

1960s B

Answer 7

Bandura proposes the social learning theory approach. Draws attention to the role of cognitive factors in learning

Question 8

1980s

Answer 8

The biological approach begins to establish itself due to advances in technology (e.g., MRI and PET scans) creating more understanding of the brain and biological processes

Question 9

Eve of 21st century

Answer 9

Cognitive neuroscience emerges (accidents, brain science) brings together the cognitive and biological approaches.

Question 10

What were Wundt’s two goals of psychology?

Answer 10

To identify components of consciousness

To identify how those components combined to result in our conscious experience

Question 11

What is introspection?

Answer 11

the informal process of exploring one’s own conscious thoughts

Question 12

What was the method of Introspection

Answer 12

Wundt conducted controlled experiments with a stimulus to get participants to explain their first thought with the stimulus (e.g., a light, image or sound).

Question 13

What were the results from introspection?

Answer 13

Subjective experiences from participants were used to develop a theory of conscious thoughts.

Question 14

What is structuralism

Answer 14

Isolating conscious thoughts into basic structures of thoughts, processes and images

Question 15

What are the pros of Wundt’s study?

Answer 15

Controlled methods, making it more scientific.

Introspection experiment recorded in controlled environment.

Standardised instructions helped forerun later scientific approaches.

Question 16

What are the cons of Wundt’s study?

Answer 16

Relied on participant self-reporting.

Subjective data

Participants may have hidden thoughts or made false claims to satisfy researcher.

Difficult to draw general laws from subjective data.