Origins of Psychology

Question 1

What did Wilhelm Wundt do for Psychology?

Answer 1

• ‘father of psychology’
• opened the first lab in Leipzig, Germany (1879)
• devised introspection

Question 2

What is introspection?

Answer 2

• method for studying internal mental events

- breaks down conscious awareness into basic structures of reflections, thoughts, images, and sensations

Question 3

How did Wundt investigate introspection?

Answer 3

• recorded under strictly controlled conditions
• used the same stimuli, reaction times, and instructions for participants
• participant had to say everything going on in their mind whilst completing an activity
• must keep talking even if their thoughts aren’t clear
• no hesitation, no justification

Question 4

Evaluate introspection positively.

Answer 4

(+) helped develop other psychological approaches (ie behaviourism by Watson, cognitive by Beck)

(+) extremely scientific. The study has high level of control

(+) able to establish what causes behaviour - helps predict future occurrences (eg dopamine -> OCD)

(+) still used today in areas of therapy that study emotional states (eg cognitive therapy turning -ve thoughts into +ve)

(+) supports and advocates the idea of reductionism. Believed consciousness could be broken into basic elements - perception, senses, experiences.