Introspection

Question 1

What was the name of the psychologist who used ‘Introspection” to investigate the human mind?

Answer 1

Wilhelm Wundt

Question 2

What behaviours did Wundt study?

Answer 2

Only those that can be observed in controlled lab conditions.

Question 3

What was Wundt’s aim? Give examples if possible.

Answer 3

To study the structure of the mind, breaking down the different functions of the mind into their basic elements.
Examples:
1. Perception
2. Sensation
3. Memory
4. Problem Solving

Question 4

What is the Latin meaning of ‘Introspection’?

Answer 4

Looking into.

Question 5

Define Introspection.

Answer 5

The process by which one gains knowledge about their own mental and emotional states.

Question 6

What happened in Wundt’s experiments? How were they conducted?

Answer 6

1. Individuals were presented with carefully controlled stimuli.
2. They were then asked to provide a description of the inner processes they were experiencing as they engaged with the stimuli.
3. Participants’ reports to the same stimuli were compared in order to establish general theories about perception and other mental processes.

Question 7

Give 3 things that Wundt did to make the investigation as scientific and accurate as possible.

Answer 7

Any 3 from:
1. Controlled the environment.
2. Controlled the stimuli and tasks that participants were asked to think about.
3. Limited the range of responses they might give.
4. Trained his participants so that they could give the most detailed observations possible.

Question 8

List the 2 strengths of Introspection.

Answer 8

1. Its use in Contemporary Research.
2. It took a scientific approach to investigating the mind and inspired further methods to be developed.

Question 9

List the 2 criticisms of Introspection.

Answer 9

1. Non-Observable Behaviour.
2. Lack of Accuracy.

Question 10

Explain what is meant by the evaluation point ‘contemporary research’.

Answer 10

• Introspection has been used as a way of measuring happiness.
• It found that when teenagers were engaged in challenging tasks, they were more upbeat.
• This suggests introspection has relevance in contemporary research and is still useful for measuring certain behaviours.

Question 11

Explain what is meant by the evolution point ‘scientific methods’.

Answer 11

• Scientific methods allow us to develop and test theories and methods and refine them if needed.
• Although it was limited, introspection allowed for new methods to be developed such as brain imaging, which is a more reliable and valid method.

Question 12

Explain what is meant by the evaluation point ‘non-observable behaviour’.

Answer 12

• This approach requires participants to report on their conscious experiences which are unobservable.
• E.g memory and perception are impossible to observe.
• Therefore this approach lacks reliability as the results have not been reproduced by other researchers.

Question 13

Explain what is meant by the evaluation point ‘lack of accuracy’.

Answer 13

• There are claims that we have little knowledge of what causes or contributes to our behaviour and beliefs.
• Nisbett and Wilson found that participants were unaware of the different factors that had been influential in their choice of consumer items; we are unable to observe our own thoughts and feelings.
• This suggests that some of our behaviours and attitudes exist outside of conscious awareness and that introspection would not uncover them.

Question 14

What is meant by ‘subjective’?

Answer 14

Bias

Question 15

What is meant by ‘objective’?

Answer 15

Free of bias, factual.