Lesson 1: Origins of psychology Flashcards
Who was Wilhelm Wundt known as?
the Father of psychology
Why is Wundt known as the “Father of psychology”?
he moved psychology from its PHILIOSOPHICAL roots to controlled research
What did he set up in 1879?
His first experimental psychological laboratory in Leipzig Germany
What was Wilhem’s laboratory designated to aid?
designated to aid ->SCIENTIFIC study of psychological INQUIRY using CONTROLLED observations that facilitate the REPLICATION of results
What did Wundt come up with?
Introspection
What is introspection?
The first EXPERIMENTAL attempt to study MENTAL PROCESSES by breaking down CONSCIOUS awareness into basic structures of:
-reflections
-thoughts
-images
-sensations
Outline the process of introspection
(Hint: Activity, continuous talking, no hesitation)
1) Involves the person saying everything that is going through their mind whilst completing an ACTIVITY or TASK.
2) They must keep talking even if their ideas are not clear
3) They must NOT hesitate, and do NOT need to JUSTIFY their thoughts.
State a Positive evaluation of introspection + the emergence of psychology as a science
(Hint: development of approaches)
Introspection has helped DEVELOP other approaches in psychology (e.g behaviourism via Watson + cognitive approach via Beck).
It is a useful PHENOMENON used in psychology that has formed the BASIS of other approaches.
State a Positive evaluation of introspection + the emergence of psychology as a science
(Hint: therapies that study emotional states)
Introspection is used in areas of therapy that study EMOTIONAL STATES.
e.g introspection can be used in COGNITIVE THERAPY in order to get patients to alter their NEGATIVE thinking + turn them into POSITIVE THOUGHTS.
THEREFORE introspection can be APPLIED to contemporary therapy used in MODERN society
State a Positive evaluation of introspection + the emergence of psychology as a science
(Hint: Psychological processes of perception)
Wundt was the first psychologist to focus on understanding the PSYCHOLOGICAL processes of PERCEPTION etc. rather than philosophical or biological processes.
State a NEGATIVE evaluation of introspection + the emergence of psychology as a science
(hint: Watson= subjectivity of introspection)
Watson CRITICISED Wundt’s idea of introspection
-He believed that -> introspection produces SUBJECTIVE data which varies from one individual to the next
-Reinforced in his book “Behaviour” where it is stated that:
“Reliable knowledge from HUMAN psychology can only be GLEANED from observing EMPIRICAL behaviours”
State a NEGATIVE evaluation of introspection + the emergence of psychology as a science
(Hint: HOW the mind works)
Fails to explain HOW the mind works + processes involved in THINKING about a particular topic/ activity.
Psychologists cannot see how thoughts are GENERATED + introspection cannot be observed properly
