Approaches -> Origins Of Psychology

Question 1

The Emergence of Psychology as a Science

Answer 1

Wilhelm Wundt is known as the ‘Father of Psychology’ as he moved psychology away from its philosophical roots to controlled research.

Wundt developed an introspection to study mental processes

The use of controlled environments enabled Wundt to establish general theories about mental processes.

Wundt later identified higher mental processes (such as learning, language, etc.) that could not be studied in a strictly controlled manner.

Wundt’s work led to the development of the field of cultural psychology, based on general trends in behaviour of groups of people

Question 2

Strengths of Wundt

Answer 2

higher mental processes were difficult to study &
focus on understanding the psychological processes of perception

Question 3

Weaknesses of Wundt

Answer 3

early behaviourists made a greater contribution than Wundt did.

They produced reliable findings

Question 4

Introspection

Answer 4

Introspection is a systematic analysis of our own conscious experiences of a stimuli.

This information could then be used to gain insight into the mental processes involved in perception

Question 5

Strengths of introspection

Answer 5

Introspection is still sometimes used in modern scientific psychological research, and in areas such as therapy and studying emotional states. This demonstrates its value as one way mental
processes can be investigated

Question 6

Weakness of introspection

Answer 6

Studies using introspection may not be valid. Many psychologists would argue that several aspects of our mind are outside of our conscious awareness and so cannot be reported by an individual.