Origins Of Psychology

Question 1

Wundt

Answer 1

Founder (father) of psychology, set up first psych lab in 1875.

Question 2

Structure of consciousness

Answer 2

Thoughts, images, sensations

Question 3

What is introspection

Answer 3

It was the first systematic approach to studying the mind, lead to the identifying of the basic structure of consciousness (thoughts, images, sensations) the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes to provide insight into them.

Feelings, emotions and sensations were measured when looking at a particular stimulus to provide insight into the processes.

Question 4

Wundt’s scientific approach

Answer 4

Behaviour is determined (caused by something) and predictable

Question 5

Rejection of introspection

Answer 5

• too subjective
• can’t be replicated

Question 6

Subjective

Answer 6

based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions

Question 7

Systematic

Answer 7

methodical, planned and replicable

Question 8

Falsifiable

Answer 8

able to be disproven by experimental results, able to be repeated

Question 9

Empiricism

Answer 9

the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation

Question 10

Positive scientific aspects of Wundt’s research (ao3)

Answer 10

• introspection was conducted in a controlled lab setting
• the procedure was standardised (all participants received the same information and were tested in the same way)

Question 11

Negative subjective aspects of Wundt’s research (ao3)

Answer 11

• introspection has potential for investigator bias as Wundt trained his participants so it could be argued that they all have similar interests in mind for the progression of the research.
• Wundt focuses a lot on mental processes that can’t be observed or replicated.

Question 12

Positive Modern psychology can claim to be scientific (ao3)

Answer 12

• controlled lab studies are conducted to prove and test theories
• psychology has the same aims as natural sciences which is to describe, understand, predict, and control behaviour.

Question 13

Negative Argument that psychology shouldn’t be scientific (ao3)

Answer 13

• humanism and psychodynamic approaches believe that instead of controlled research and generating general principles, we should focus on individuals and us non-scientific methods such as case studies for research.