Origins of Psychology

Question 1

what is introspection

Answer 1

means ‘to look inside’ and describes act of thinking about your inner thoughts

Question 2

what is structuralism

Answer 2

first school of psychology which focused on breaking down mental processes into something more simple
- used introspection

Question 3

what was Wundts research

Answer 3

• founded institute of experiential psychology
• published one of the first books on psychology which helped establish subject as branch of science
• used scientific approaches in research
• developed theories about mental processes such as language
• used controlled environment to researcher higher mental processes

Question 4

strengths of Wundts research

Answer 4

• founding of experimental psychology kicked psychology into the scientific world
• focus on mental process through introspection was a forerunner for cognitive approach
• some of his methods were scientific

Question 5

limitations to Wundts research

Answer 5

• mainly subjective which contrasts with science which is objective
• introspective methods are hard to replicate due to subjectivity
• greater contributions from Pavlov as his studies could be replicated