Origins in Psychology

Question 1

Definition of Psychology

Answer 1

• Psychology: The scientific study of the mind and behavior.
• Goals: To describe, explain, predict, and control behavior and mental processes.

Question 2

Wilhelm Wundt - Founder of Psychology

Answer 2

• Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920): Known as the ‘father of psychology.’
• Contribution: Opened the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879, marking the formal establishment of psychology as a separate scientific discipline.
• Key Idea: Wundt’s approach was structuralism—the analysis of the basic elements (structures) of the human mind.

Question 3

Introspection - Wundt’s Method

Answer 3

• Introspection: The process by which individuals examine their own conscious thoughts and feelings.
• Procedure: Participants were trained to report their thoughts, sensations, and feelings in response to a stimulus (e.g., a metronome).
• Goal: To break down consciousness into basic elements (sensations, images, and feelings).

Question 4

Evaluation of Wundt’s Introspection

Answer 4

• Strengths:
  o Pioneered the use of controlled conditions in psychological research.
  o Laid the foundation for modern experimental psychology.
• Limitations:
  o Subjective: Introspection relied on self-report, which is not reliable or scientific.
  o Lack of scientific rigor: Mental processes are difficult to measure objectively using introspection.

Question 5

The Emergence of Psychology as a Science

Answer 5

• Scientific Approach: Psychology gradually adopted more scientific methods.
  o Empiricism: The view that knowledge comes from sensory experience and observation.
  o Psychology moved from philosophical roots to being grounded in scientific principles.
• Key Features of Science:
  o Objectivity: Researchers should remain unbiased.
  o Replicability: Research findings should be repeatable under the same conditions.
  o Falsifiability: Theories should be testable and refutable.

Question 6

Emergence of Different Approaches

Answer 6

• After Wundt, psychology branched into various schools of thought:
  1. Psychodynamic Approach (Freud, 1900s) - Focus on the unconscious mind.
  2. Behaviorism (Watson, 1913) - Focus on observable behavior and the rejection of introspection.
  3. Humanistic Approach (Rogers, Maslow, 1950s) - Focus on individual experience and free will.
  4. Cognitive Approach (1960s) - Focus on mental processes (thoughts, memory, problem-solving).
  5. Biological Approach (1980s onwards) - Focus on genetic, neural, and hormonal influences on behavior.

Question 7

The Shift Towards Modern Psychology

Answer 7

• Behaviorism (John B. Watson, 1913): Argued that psychology should focus on observable behavior, rejecting introspection as unscientific. This led to psychology being viewed as a science of behavior.
• Cognitive Neuroscience (21st century): A modern field that merges cognitive psychology and neuroscience, focusing on brain function in relation to mental processes.

Question 8

Key Features of Scientific Psychology

Answer 8

• Control: Using controlled conditions in research to establish cause and effect.
• Objectivity: Avoiding researcher bias through systematic observation and experimentation.
• Replicability: The importance of repeatable experiments.
• Theory Construction: Developing theories and hypotheses that are testable and falsifiable.

Question 9

Key Research - Wundt’s Experiments

Answer 9

• Wundt conducted experiments under controlled conditions to study perception and sensation. His work marked the transition from philosophical inquiry to scientific research in psychology.
• Example Study: Wundt’s introspection experiments with trained participants provided insights into the structure of conscious experience, though the findings lacked scientific rigor by modern standards.

Question 10

Evaluation of the Origins of Psychology

Answer 10

• Strengths:
  1. Wundt’s work was foundational in the establishment of psychology as a science.
  2. Psychology has evolved to adopt more rigorous scientific methods.
  3. Led to the development of various influential approaches (e.g., behaviorism, cognitive psychology).
• Limitations:
  1. Wundt’s introspection was not fully scientific, as it lacked objectivity and reliability.
  2. Early psychology was too focused on conscious experience, neglecting the unconscious (Freud) and observable behavior (Watson).

Question 11

Key Exam Points

Answer 11

• Definitions: Be able to define psychology and key terms like introspection.
• Research: Familiarize yourself with Wundt’s contributions, his methods (introspection), and the emergence of psychology as a science.
• Evaluation: Be ready to critically assess the strengths and limitations of introspection and early psychological approaches.