approaches - orgins of psychology

Question 1

wundts contribution to psychology

Answer 1

1. ” the father of psychology”
2. opened the first laboratory for experimental psychology in leipzig Germany - seperated from philosphoical roots
3. “Principles of Physiological Psychology” 1874 - spread worldwide
4. theory of structuralism and method of introseption - allowed for debate agree/ disagree

Question 2

what does introspection mean

Answer 2

-latin for “look into” the process of which a person gains knowledge about one’s own mental and emotional states as a result of the examination or observation of their conscious thoughts or feelings. Wundt believed that by training mental processes such as memory can be observed as they occur

Question 3

what does empiricism mean

Answer 3

the belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experiences eg very scientific method data collected from senses

Question 4

orgins evaluation +

Answer 4

introspection still used in psychology Hunter et al used introspection to investigate happiness in teens therefore offers a way to investigate conditions that could benefit people

Question 5

orgins evaluation -

Answer 5

-methods unreliable relied on non-observable responces therefore less reliable
-not particularly accurate nisbett and wilson little knowledge about causes and proccesses underlying behaviour conscious awarness limits validilty of self reports of moms

Question 6

discuss wundts role in the emergence of psychology as a science 3 marks

Answer 6

Wundt opened the first lab dedicated to psychology in Liepzig, Germany. which allowed him to study psychology in a controlled emprical environment. His work paved the way for later controlled research and the study of mental processes eg by cognitive psychologists.

Question 7

assumptions of wundts methods

Answer 7

-all behaviour is seen to be caused (determinism)
-behaviour can therefore be predicted

Question 8

what is structuralism

Answer 8

a theory that structure of human mind and behaviours such as perception and emotion should be broken down into basic elements to be studied

Question 9

example of Wundts experiment

Answer 9

• studies of perception participants would be presented with images and would provide a description of their inner processes whilst looking at the image

Question 10

evaluate orgins of psychology
INACCURATE

Answer 10

• criticised for being inaccurate eg Nisbett and Wilson found people have implicit unconscious attitudes or stereotypes for example a person may be implicitly racist and may not be aware of their own prejudices TMB as introspection may not be the most appropriate way to gain knowledge as people have limited ability to accrately report their attitudes and beliefs

Question 11

evaluate organs of psychology
Non-observable

Answer 11

structuralist approach relied on ‘non-observable’ responses eg processes being studied such as memory and perception considered to be unobservable constructions often Wundts approach has failed to produce consistent results from other results in other laboratories TMB not met features of a science such as empirical data therefore may lack scientific creditability

Question 12

HOWEVER evaluate organs of psychology useful ?

Answer 12

However introspection still useful and still used by psychologists eg hunter et al used introspection the make complex phenomenon such as happiness into measurable data teenagers beepers random times a day write down thoughts TMB method of introspection can still be used in real life and data collected would benefit researchers