Origin Of Psychology

Question 1

William Wundt’s Contribution to Psychology

Answer 1

> Developed the first experimental psychology lab in Germany (1879)
Wrote the first Psychology textbook
Used the scientific method to study the structure of sensation and perception
Showed that introspection could be used to study mental states in replicable laboratory experiments

Question 2

Define Psychology

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Define Science

Answer 3

A means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation. The aim is to discover general laws

Question 4

What is Introspection?

Answer 4

‘Looking into’

It is a method of studying the mind by breaking up conscious thoughts into basic thoughts, images and sensations

Question 5

Wundt’s approach is known as Structuralism. What does it mean by structuralism? and how is involved in introspection?

Answer 5

Structuralism is demonstrated through introspection as he isolated different structures of the consciousness into basic thoughts, images and sensations.
He used experimental methods to find the basic building blocks (structures) of thought and investigate how they interacted.

Question 6

2 Issues concerning Introspections

Answer 6

> There will always be a delay between the conscious experience and reporting its existence, therefore we may forget or leave out details
Subject’s reports cannot be replicated therefore unreliable

Question 7

1879 (WW)

Answer 7

• William Wundt opened the first experimental psychology lab in Germany
• Psychology emerged as a distinct discipline in its own right

Question 8

1900 (SF)

Answer 8

• Sigmund Freud established the Psychodynamic approach
• He emphasised the influence of the unconscious mind on behaviour
• He also developed his own therapy for depression called psychoanalysis

Question 9

1913 (JW,S - B)

Answer 9

• John Watson and Skinner established the Behaviour approach
• They criticised Freud and Wundt arguing that a true scientific psychology should restrict itself to studying phenomena that can be observed and measured
• They believed introspection was too subjective
• They believed that all behaviour is learnt and were only interested in with observable behavioural
• The Psychodynamic and Behaviourist approach dominated psychology for the next 40 years

Question 10

1950 (CR, AM - H)

Answer 10

• Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow developed the Humanistic approach
• They rejected the view put forward by the Behaviourist and Psychodynamic approach that suggested that human behaviour was not determined by the individual
• Humanists emphasised the importance of Free will

Question 11

1960 (- C)

Answer 11

• 10 years later, Cognitive approach was developed along with the introduction of computers
• The cognitive approach was interested in studying mental processes in a more scientific manner than Wundt’s introspection
• They were also able to make inferences of how the mind works, based on lab experiments

Question 12

1980

Answer 12

• The Biological approach began to establish itself as the dominant approach in Psychology
• Due to the advances in technology e.g.MRI scans - increased understanding of the brain

Question 13

2000

Answer 13

• Cognitive neuroscience emerged as the distinct approach that brought together the Biological and Cognitive approach
• The approach investigates how biological studies affect mental states