approaches: origins of psychology Flashcards
what is the definition of science?
discovering the physical and natural world systematically and objectivity using empirical methods such as observation and experimentation.
what does systematic refer to?
- using a fixed or controlled method
- following a standardised plan in investigations
- gives researchers confidence that their measurements are not just the result of an error in conducting their study
what does objectivity refer to?
- the absence of bias in research
- findings influenced by personal opinions can result in a confirmation bias where researchers merely attempt to support their pre-existing beliefs
what does empiricism refer to?
- the belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience
- it is characterised by the use of scientific method
what did Wilhelm Wundt do?
- opened the first experimental psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany in 1879
- as a result, psychology began to emerge as its own discipline
- produced one of world’s first books on psychology + first academic journal that published psychological experiments
what did Wundt’s approach become known as and what is it?
Structuralism: used scientific methods to study human consciousness by breaking its structure into smaller constituent parts e.g. sensations and perceptions
- believed in reductionism: consciousness can be broken down
- experimental method he used: introspection
what is introspection?
the process by which a person gains knowledge about their own mental and emotional states as a result of the examination of their conscious thoughts and feelings.
how did Wundt try to be scientific?
- all introspection done under strictly controlled conditions using the same stimulus each time
- same standardised instructions were issued to all participants
- allowed procedures to be replicated and reliable through standardisation
what is the difference between Introspection and Observation?
- introspection is not a direct observation of mental processes; Wundt made inferences (assuming structure or internal mental processes based on observed behaviour)
- with enough observations of people behaving the same way, researchers can make inferences about the processes driving their behaviour
Evaluation supporting Wundt: scientific
- for his time, his work was highly scientific because of the controlled experiments, large sample sizes and transparent methods used
- this systematic approach allowed him to develop general theories of mental processes and enable other researchers to replicate his findings
- his emphasis on scientific methodology was a significant inspiration for subsequent scientific psychologists, including behaviourists
For and Against Wundt: subjective and relevant?
- Wundt’s introspective methods are considered subjective; not classified as truly scientific. Participants cant be relied on to accurately report on mental states and may be biased, mistaken or influenced by demand characteristics
- However, introspection remains relevant for studying unobservable mental processes e.g. emotional states + used in therapy
Against Wundt: use of inferences
- inferences to identify mental states criticised as assumptions, so they could be mistaken
- behaviourist psychologists reject study of internal mental states -> see mind as a ‘black box’, can only study fully observable stimulus-response mechanism, behaviourism more in line with scientific principles (nomothetic approach more advantageous)
- however, his use of inferences influenced cognitive psychologists ; these researchers ask participants to complete tasks under experimental conditions.
- the participant’s ability to complete these tasks is used to make inferences about the structure of internal mental processes like memory, attention and perception
what did Watson and Skinner criticise about introspective methods?
- critiqued the subjective nature of personal observations
- difficult to make generalisations from this research
- Watson highly critical on introspection’s focus on ‘private’ mental processes. Proposed that a truly scientific psychology should restrict itself to only studying phenomena that could be observed and measured carefully controlled lab experiments
experimental methods in modern psychology:
- modern psychologists continue to rely on this method as part of their research + practices
- biological approach: researchers taken advantage of recent advances in technology yo investigate physiological processes as they happen, including live activity in the brain using scanning techniques e.g. fMRI and EEG.
Wundt’s role in emergance of Psychology as a science:
- first to open a laboratory designated to a scientific study
- focus on understanding psychological processes of perception and structuralism
- introspection still used today in some areas of therapy and understanding emotional needs.
