Origins of psychology

Question 1

What was Wundt’s aim?

Answer 1

To study the structure of the mind by breaking down behaviour’s into their basic element: STRUCTURALISM

Question 1

When did Wundt set up the first psychology lab?

Answer 1

1870s

Question 2

How did Wundt study structuralism?

Answer 2

He studied highly controlled behaviour such as reaction times. systematically changing the stimuli he presented to participants and measuring how long it took them to respond

Question 3

What is introspection?

Answer 3

A systematic analysis of our own conscious experience of a stimulus

Question 4

What did Wundt prompt introspection as?

Answer 4

A way of studying mental processes.

Question 5

What is psychology?

Answer 5

Scientific study of the human mind and it’s functions and functions affecting behaviour

Question 6

What was psychology known as in the 17th and early 19th century?

Answer 6

Experimental philosophy

Question 7

How did Wundt himself conduct experiments?

Answer 7

Ask them to focus on everyday object -metronome- and look inwards and analyse in terms of component parts

Question 8

What is empiricism?

Answer 8

The belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience

Question 9

What is empiricism characterised by?

Answer 9

Scientific method

Question 10

What was the scientific method based on?

Answer 10

-All behaviour is caused
-If behaviour is determined then it should be possible to predict how humans beings would behave in different conditions

Question 11

What does the scientific method refer too?

Answer 11

The use of investigative method that are objective, systematic and reliable.

Question 12

When are methods objective?

Answer 12

When researchers don’t let their preconvinced ideas or biases influence the collection of their data

Question 13

When are methods systematic?

Answer 13

When observations and experiments are carried out in an orderly way

Question 14

How can controlled methods as a strength be used by Wundt be evaluated?

Answer 14

All introspection were recorded strictly under controlled conditions using the same stimulus each time.
Same standarised instructions used = objective.

Question 15

Wundt used controlled methods meaning it can be repeated why is this a strength?

Answer 15

Procedures replicated each time.
Significant as it marked separation of the modern scientific psychology from its broader philosophical roots.

Question 16

We have little knowledge of the cause of, and processes underlying our behaviour and attitudes. Why is this a weakness of Wundt?

Answer 16

Such as research has found that participants were remarkably aware of the factors that had been influential in their choice of consumer item. This is a problem for the study of implicit items

Question 17

Wundt’s data was subjective. Why is this a weakness?

Answer 17

Varied from person to person so difficult to establish general principles.
Introspective results were not reliably reproducible by other researchers.
Although they could report on their conscious experiences the processes themselves were unobservable.

Question 18

What are strengths of the emergence of psychology as a science?

Answer 18

-Reliance on objective/systematic methods of observations = knowledge obtained from scientific method is more than just passive acceptance of facts.
-Scientific methods rely on belief in determinism, cause + effect can be established using methods that are empirical + replicable
-If scientific theories no longer fit facts they can be self-corrective.

Question 19

What are weaknesses of the emergence of psychology as a science?

Answer 19

-Reliance on objectivity + control create contrived situations which reduces ecological validity
-Unobservable so can’t be measured to degree of accuracy
-Not all psychologist share views that all human behaviour can be explored via scientific methods(SM). If behaviour is not subject to laws implied by SM predictions become impossible