Origins Of Psychology

Question 1

How did Wilhelm Wundt impact psychology

Answer 1

• Wundt helped moved Psychology from its philosophical roots to becoming a research-based field
• In 1879 Wundt opened the Institute for Experimental Psychology at the University of Leipzig. This was the first experimental laboratory for psychology. In this lab he tested PPs using introspection

Question 2

What is Introspection?

Answer 2

1. Introspection is the systemic analysis of our conscious experience of a stimulus
2. Experience is analysed in terms of components such as: sensations, images, emotions etc
3. Wundt’s study was done while focusing on an inert every day object - a ticking metronome
4. Wundt used the standardisation of the metronome used to allow his method to be replicable and reliable
5. This study paved the path for controlled research and more objective studies of mental processes - cognitive psychologists

Question 3

How did Wundt contribute the Psychology as a science?

Answer 3

(19th Century)
- Use of controlled conditions
e.g. room was kept silent outside of ticking metronome so it would be PPs sole focus
- Standardisation - each PP was tested in the exact same way. This allowed methods to be replicated allowing us to see consistency in results
- Replicability

Question 4

How did Freud contribute to psychology as a science?

Answer 4

Psychodynamic approach (early 20th century)
- Adopted a form of empiricism (knowledge being gained from sensory experience). Freud required visible evidence not just self report
- Used clinical evidence from his patients

Question 5

How did Watson and Skinner contribute to psychology as a science?

Answer 5

Behaviourist approach (1910):
- Investigated observable and measurable behaviours
- Used lab experiments to maintain a high level of control over variables

Question 6

How did the Maslow and Rogers impact psychology as a science?

Answer 6

Humanistic Approach (1950s):
- Was purposefully less scientific in its study of human behaviour
- However still used empiricism

Question 7

How did the Cognitive Approach contribute to psychology as a science?

Answer 7

Followed the advent of computers in the 1960s
- Applied scientific methods such as operationalisation to internal mental processes
- Measured internal processes under controlled conditions

Operationalism = Clearly defining variables so they can be measured numerically and specifically

Question 8

How did the Biological Approach contribute to psychology as a science?

Answer 8

1980s
- The scientific focus is on measuring physiological processes within the brain and body e.g neurotransmitters
- High control of variables.
- Use of drugs to investigate into cause and effect relationships between bio chemicals and thoughts/behaviour