Origins of Psychology

Question 1

William Wundt

Answer 1

• German Physician
• Established 1st lab to study human mind (1875-79)
• Used Introspection

Question 2

Introspection

Answer 2

Participants describe thoughts and feelings (and experiences?) to various stimulants - researchers gives subjective opinion on the meaning. Wundt liked to control the environment to increase validity and trained participants for provide detailed observations.

Question 3

Rene Descartes

Answer 3

• 1596-1650
• French Philosopher
• Suggested mind & body are independent from each other (Cartesian Dualism)
• ‘I think therefore I am’

Question 4

John Locke

Answer 4

• 1632-1704
• Proposed empiricism (knowledge derived from senses)
• Knowledge & instincts are not inherited
• All knowledge can be studied via scientific method

Question 5

Charles Darwin

Answer 5

• 1809-1882
• Theory of Evolution based on natural selection

Question 6

Strengths of Introspection

Answer 6

• Provides useful info relating to ongoing experiences
• Still used today to gain access to cognitive processes
  (e.g Griffiths 1994: Studied fruit machine gamblers by asking them to ‘think aloud’)

Question 7

Weakness of Introspection

Answer 7

• We still lack knowledge on processes behind decision making and thinking
• Unscientific: participants may have had response bias as they were trained to have authority
• Doesn’t account for delay between conscious experiences and reaction

Question 8

Empiricism Assumptions

Answer 8

• Behaviour has a caused (determined)
• Behaviour can be predicted
• Behaviour can be tested in different conditions