origins of psychology

Question 1

briefly summarise Wundt’s work (1879)

Answer 1

he marked the beginning of scientific psychology
- he carried out introspection
- main objective of trying to develop theories about mental processes (e.g. language and perception)
- so his coworkers and him recorded their experiences of various stimuli they were presented with (objects and sounds) and divided observations into 3 categories (thoughts, images, sounds).
- used structuralism to ensure the stimuli they all experienced was always presented in same order and same instructions for all participants (standardised way)

Question 2

introspection (Wundt)

Answer 2

first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations

Question 3

structuralism (Wundt)

Answer 3

isolating the structure of consciousness (the way wundt did)

Question 4

give one strength of Wundt’s work on human consciousness

Answer 4

his methods were systematic and well controlled (scientific)
- all introspections were recorded in a controlled environment of a lab so any possible extraneous variables weren’t a factor
- all instructions and procedures were standardised
- this suggests his research can be considered a forerunner to later psychology scientific approaches (e.g. behaviourist approach)

Question 5

give one limitation of Wundt’s work on human consciousness

Answer 5

some of his research aspects would be considered unscientific today (outdated)
- relied on participants self reporting their mental processes = data is subjective and participants may have hidden some of their thoughts
- suggests some of his early methods to study the mind were flawed and wouldn’t meet criteria of scientific enquiry anymore

Question 6

science

Answer 6

a means of aqcuiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation with the aim to discover general laws

Question 7

briefly explain 1900’s behaviourists as part of the emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 7

• watson questioned the value of introspection (because it produced subjective data so was difficult to establish general laws)
• Watson (and later Skinner) proposed a truly scientific psychology should only study events that can be observed objectively and measured
• behaviourist approach dominated scientific psychology for next 50yrs

Question 8

briefly explain 1950’s cognitive approach as part of the emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 8

• this approach reintroduces study of mental processes to psychology but in a more scientific way than Wundts earlier investigations
• Rogers and Maslow developed humanist approach that emphasises the importance of self determination and free will
• introduction of digital computer gave psychologists a metaphor for operations of human mind (e.g. the MSM)

Question 9

briefly explain what happened in the 1960’s as part of the emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 9

Bandura - social learning theory

Question 10

briefly explain 1980’s biological approach as part of the emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 10

dominant scientific perspective in psychology, due to advances in technology that increased understanding of brain and biological processes
- e.g. FMRI and EEG scans to study live activity in the brain and to understand relationship between genes and behaviour

Question 11

briefly explain what happened in the 21st century as part of the emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 11

emergence of cognitive neuroscience
- brings together cognitive and biological approaches
- investigates how biological structures influence mental states

Question 12

give one strength of the emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 12

research can claim to be scientific in modern psychology
- all approaches rely on scientific methods (e.g. lab studies to investigates theories in a controlled and unbiased way)
- suggests that throughout 20th century and beyond psychology has established itself as a scientific discipline

Question 13

give one limitation of the emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 13

not all approaches in psychology use objective methods
- humanistic approach rejects scientific approach (prefers individual and subjective experiences)
- psychodynamic approach uses case studies that don’t use representative samples
- the subjective of studies is humans, who are active participants that respond to demand characteristics
- therefore scientific approach to the study of humans thoughts and experiences may not always be desirable