Origins of psychology

Question 1

What is Wundt known as and why?

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 Wundt’s 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