Origins Of Psychology

Question 1

Psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those functions affecting behaviour in a given context

Question 2

Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 2

• he separated psychology from biology and philosophy
• became the first known psychologist
  -1873, he published the first book on psychology ‘principles of physiological psychology’
• 1879, he opened the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany
• dubbed the father of psychology

Question 3

Structuralism

Answer 3

• Wundts approach
• used experimental methods to find basic human structures of thought and investigate how they interact
• studied perception and sensation, breaking participants observations of objects, images and events
• he studied how long it took someone to respond to a stimuli in order to make inferences
• the longer it took to respond the more thought processes

Question 4

Introspection

Answer 4

• Wundt used introspection to investigate the human mind
• he asked participants to reflect on their own cognitive processes and describe them
• Wundt established psychology as a science by using the scientific method- his ideas would lead to multiple different psychological perspectives

Question 5

Introspection evaluation (+)

Answer 5

• is subjective
• not empirical method, conscious thoughts cannot be measured

Question 6

Wundts scientific approach was based on two assumptions

Answer 6

• all behaviour is seen as being caused (determined)
• if behaviour is determined, then it should be possible to predict how human beings would behave in different conditions (predictability)

Question 7

Scientific method

Answer 7

1) ask a question
2) state a hypothesis
3) conduct an experiment
4) analyse results
5) make a conclusion

Question 8

Scientific method evaluation (+)

Answer 8

• knowledge acquired is accurate and produces facts due to the use of objective and controlled studies
• allows causes of behaviour to be established and theories developed which can the be tested and modified , once the cause s established a treatment can be made

Question 9

Scientific method evaluation (-)

Answer 9

• certain areas of behaviour and he mind cannot be observed therefore cannot be measured using the scientific method
• focuses on being objective and conducting research in strictly controlled environments, know little about how people will behave in their natural environment