origins of psychology Flashcards
Define psychology
the scientific study of the human mind, behaviour and experience
define introspection
the first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations
define science
a means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation. The aim is to discover general laws
When was Wundt’s lab first opened and why was this significant to psychology?
- the first ever lab for psychology was opened by Wundt in 1879
- Wundt’s method came to be known as introspection
- his work was significant to separate philosophical psychology from scientific psychology
What is structuralism and which psychologist is associated with that idea?
Isolating the structure of the consciousness in this way is called structuralism. Wundt is associated with this idea
17th - 19th century psychology
- broader discipline of philosophy
- experimental philosophy
Describe psychology in 1879
Wilhelm Wundt opens first psychology lab in Germany. Psychology is its own distinct discipline.
Who is the key psychologist in the 1900s? What is the dominant approach?
Sigmund Freud and psychodynamics
What are the dominate psychology approaches fort he first half of the 20th century?
the psychodynamic and behaviourist approach.
(Skinner establishes the behaviourist approach in 1913)
What approaches are developed in the 1950s?
the humanistic approach and the cognitive approach (with the introduction of digital computers)
When was the social learning theory proposed?
1960s
When does the biological approach begin to establish itself?
1980s (and onwards)
At the eve of the 21st century was approach emerges?
cognitive neuroscience
What is one strength of Wundt’s work?
His methods were scientific. - - Carried out in a lab and so a
controlled environment
which ensured that
extraneous variables were
not a factor.
- procedures and instructions were standardised
- systematic
Explain one limitation of Wundt’s research
Wundt’s research is considered unscientific today
- he relied on ppts to self report their mental processes
- data is bias and subjective
- no laws of behaviour can be determined from this data
