L1 - the origins of psychology

Question 1

what is psychology

Answer 1

the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially affecting behaviour in a given context

Question 2

what is science

Answer 2

a means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation, the aim is to discover laws

Question 3

who was wundt

Answer 3

first person to call himself a psychologist
opened first experimental psychological lab in Germany - designated to aid scientific study of psychological inquiry
developed introspection

Question 4

what is introspection

Answer 4

the first systematic and experimental attempt to study the mind/mental process by breaking down conscious awareness into basic structures of reflection, thoughts, images and sensations

Question 5

what does introspection involve

Answer 5

saying everything going through their mind whilst doing an activity
keep talking even if ideas are unclear
must not hesitate
can use fragmented sentences
do not have to justify their thoughts

Question 6

what did wundt later realise about introspection

Answer 6

mental processes difficult to study using introspection
encourages a search for alternative methods/approaches such as brain scanning

Question 7

2 strengths of introspection

Answer 7

• supports idea of reductionism, believed consciousness could be broken down without sacrificing properties as a whole, studied internal mental processed by deconstructing them down into measurable units e.g. perception, senses, experience
• used today in areas of therapy that study emotional states, used in CBT to get patients to alter negative thinking so can be applied to contemporary therapy used in modern society

Question 8

2 weaknesses of introspection

Answer 8

• not scientific or accurate, wilson claims psychologists have little knowledge about attitudes/behaviours outside of conscious awareness, e.g. racism. introspection cannot uncover and help us understand these processes
• watson criticised wundts idea of introspection and whether psychology was emerging as a science, introspection produces subjective data which varies from one individual to the next so is not objective or reliable

Question 9

why did wundt believe psychology should emerge as a science

Answer 9

investigate in the same way as traditional sciences
used scientific methods - paving the way from psychology to be seen as a science
introspection was recorded under strictly controlled conditions in a lab setting - used same stimuli, reaction time and instructions