Origins of psychology

Question 1

Wundt’ lab

Answer 1

• Known as the ‘father of psychology’
  -1879 Wundt opened up the first lab in Leipzig Germany
  -Work marked the beginning of scientific discovery separating it from philosophical routes

Question 2

What was Wundt’s aim?

Answer 2

To analyse the nature of human consciousness- first systematic attempt to study the mind under controlled conditions

Question 3

What was his pioneering method known as?

Answer 3

Introspection

Question 4

What is introspection?

Answer 4

process of looking into- first systematic attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images & sensations
-know as structuralism

Question 5

How did Wundt use standardised procedures?

Answer 5

-believed mental processes could be observed systematically
-He asked participants to describe their inner mental processes (thoughts, images, sensations)
-in response to controlled stimulus e.g. ticking metronome

Question 6

What is meant by emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 6

-psychology developing as a scientific discipline

Question 7

How have behaviourists enabled the emergence of psych as a science ?

Answer 7

-through scientific methods of behaviourists (study of observable behaviours only) 1900s
-dominated psychology for 50 years

Question 8

How have cognitive psychologists enabled the emergence of psych as a science ?

Answer 8

-emergence of cognitive approach has legitimised the study of mental processes as scientific by making inferences 1950s
-likened the mind to a computer ( MSM)

Question 9

How has the biological led to the emergence of psych as a science?

Answer 9

-uses experimental methods to explain behaviour as having a physical cause such as fMRI 1980s

Question 10

What is a strength of Wundt’s methods?

Answer 10

-some of his methods were systematic & well–controlled
-all introspections were recorded in a controlled environment of the lab (ensured EV’s not a factor)
-procedures & instructions were standardised (define)
-Wundt considered forerunner for later approaches

Question 11

What is a weakness of Wundt’s study?

Answer 11

-aspect of Wundt’s research considered unscientific
-Wundt relied on participants self reporting their mental processes
-data is subjective
-participants may have also hidden thoughts
-difficult to establish meaningful ‘laws of behaviour’
-Wundt’s efforts flawed

Question 12

One strength of modern psychology?

Answer 12

-Modern psych can claim to be scientific
-psych has same aims as natural sciences (describe, understand, predict behaviour)
-Learning approach, biological & cognitive all rely on scientific methods e.g. lab studies to investigate theories in a controlled & unbiased way
-psych has established itself as a scientific discipline

Question 13

What is a weakness of modern psychology?

Answer 13

-not all approaches use objective methods
-humanistic approach rejects the scientific approach» prefer to focus on individual & subjective experience
-Psychodynamic approach makes use of case studies (unrepresentative samples)
-humans are active in research-respond to demand characteristics
-scientific approach not always desirable or possible