Origins Of Psychology

Question 1

Who was the key figure in the emergence of psychology as a science?

Answer 1

Wilhelm Wundt

Question 2

In which year did Wundt write the textbook “Principles of Physiological Psychology”?

Answer 2

1873

Question 3

When did the first ever psychology lab, founded by Wilhelm Wundt, open?

Answer 3

1879

Question 4

Where was the first ever psychology lab established?

Answer 4

Leipzig, Germany

Question 5

What is introspection?

Answer 5

The process of observing and examining your own conscious thoughts and emotions.

Question 6

How did Wundt investigate introspection in his laboratory?

Answer 6

-Highly trained participants known as “observers” were presented with carefully controlled sensory events.
-The individuals were then asked to describe their mental experiences of these events.
-This process was repeated a number of times.

Question 7

Give two positive evaluation points of Wundt’s investigation of introspection.

Answer 7

♡ Wundt investigated introspection using a strictly controlled procedure, limiting the range of possible responses.
♡ Introspection has had a useful contribution in helping cognitive psychologists study mental processes.

Question 8

Give one negative evaluation point of Wundt’s investigation of introspection.

Answer 8

♧ Introspection does not adhere to the scientific method because it is based on subjective, and therefore unquantifiable, experience.

Question 9

What are the three main assumptions of psychology as a science?

Answer 9

1. Behaviour has a cause, i.e. it is predetermined.
2. Behaviour can be predicted.
3. Behaviour can be tested in different conditions.

Question 10

What is empiricism?

Answer 10

The concept that all knowledge of reality is gained from sensory experience. Rejects theory or personal belief.

Question 11

Give three evaluation points as to why psychology is NOT a science.

Answer 11

♧ Reducing the study of psychology to controlled, objective methods cannot be reliably extrapolated to explain real-life experiences.
♧ Much of psychology is unobservable, i.e. thought processes, morality
♧ The subject lacks a common goal or perspective agreed upon by most psychologists, and so the study experiences shifting paradigms, unlike other sciences.

Question 12

Give one evaluation point as to why psychology might be considered a science.

Answer 12

♡ Some approaches of psychology are deterministic, and therefore do not take into account subjective aspects of psychology.