AS APPROACHES - THE ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY AND EMERGENCE AS A SCIENCE

Question 1

Describe the early influences of psychology

Answer 1

Early influences of psychology include Rene Descartes’ Cartesian dualism (idea that body and mind are separate entities and that mind =/= brain), Charles Darwin’ theory of evolution and John Locke’s idea of empiricism (all knowledge comes from sensory experience and can be measured)

Question 2

Describe the role of Wundt in the development of psychology

Answer 2

Wilhelm Wundt established the first ever psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879. He wanted psychology as a standalone subject, away from philosophy, physiology and biology

Wundt came up with introspection; examination of one’s own thought processes. He believed we should measure consciousness and subjective experience. Wundt and his researchers were trained to reflect on their own cognitive processes when presented with novel stimuli (e.g. a ticking metronome). It was carried out in a lab environment and introspectionists could report for up to 20 mins on a 1 sec experience.

Introspection was more scientific than philosophy as it used standardised procedures and a lab environment, and it influenced the next generation of psychologists, but it was far too subjective.

Question 3

Describe the emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 3

Watson criticised introspection and said that a science should study observable, measurable behaviour

Psychologists disagree on how scientific we should be, so there are lots of different approaches

Question 4

Describe a timeline of the development of psychology

Answer 4

17th - 19th century: roots from John Locke (empiricism), Rene Descartes (Cartesian dualism) and Charles Darwin (theory of evolution)

1879: Wundt sets up first psychology lab in Leipzig and psychology is recognised as its own subject
1900s: Freud established psychodynamic approach and psychoanalysis; focus on unconscious mind
1913: Watson and Skinner establish behaviourism; beh is a product of the environment
1950s: Rogers and Maslow develop humanistic approach; emphasis on free will
1960s: Development of cog approach; computer model and study of IMPs. Also emergence of Bandura’s SLT.

1980s onwards: development of biological approach with advances in technology; effects of hormones, genes and the brain influence behaviour

Late 1990s-present: emergence of cog neuroscience; how bio structures link to mental states