Lesson 1: The origins of Psychology- Wundt

Question 1

Psychology definition

Answer 1

The scientific study of the human mind and its functions

Question 2

Definition of science

Answer 2

A means of acquiring or gathering knowledge through systematic and objective investigation.

Question 3

Evaluation of emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 3

+ Wundt was the first to open a laboratory designated to the scientific study of psychological enquiry under controlled conditions facilitating accurate measurements and replication.
+ Wundt later recognised that higher mental processes were difficult to study using his procedures and this encouraged others to look for more appropriate methods and techniques, paving the way for approaches such as brain scanning techniques.
- Many modern psychologists argue that early behaviourists (e.g. Pavlov) made a greater contribution to the development of psychology as a science than Wundt did. They produced reliable findings, which Wundt did not, with explanatory principles that were generalisable - much more in keeping with the scientific approach.

Question 4

Introspection

Answer 4

The first systematic attempt to analyse our own conscious experiences and internal mind processes. An experience is examined and broken down into its component parts e.g. sensations, feelings, images

Question 5

Positive of introspection

Answer 5

+ it was initially considered highly scientific due to the high level of control of the variables in a laboratory setting
+ introspection is still used today in areas of therapy to study, emotional states, may help patients to alter negative thinking
+ introspection has helped to develop other approaches in psychology and formed the basis of other models, (cognitive and behaviourist)

Question 6

Wilhelm Wundt- psychology emerging as a science AO1

Answer 6

• Wundt was the first person to call himself a ‘psychologist’ and is known as the ‘father of psychology’
• Opened his first experimental psychological lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879 to and the scientific study of psychology using controlled conditions that could facilitate replication of results
• Devised introspection to study internal mental events
• He wanted to investigate psychology in the same way as the traditional sciences and believed it should emerge as a science

Question 7

Process of introspection

Answer 7

• Recorded under strictly controlled conditions in a lab using the same stimuli, reaction times and instructions for all pps- pps had to focus on present experiences
• Involves the pp saying everything that is going on in their mind whilst they are doing an activity or thinking about a topic/object
• They must keep talking even if their ideas are not clear
• They must not hesitate and can use fragmented sentences, they do not need to justify their thoughts
• Wundt realised this was a difficult way to study mental processes and encouraged a search for alternative methods such as brain scanning

Question 8

Negative of introspection

Answer 8

• It was later found to not be very scientific or accurate as Wundt made inferences, and it produced very subjective data therefore was not reliable
• introspection fails to explain how the mind works, and the processes involved in thinking.
• people may display demand characteristics as the experiment relies on the participants answers