Origins of Psychology

Question 1

Define psychology

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Define science

Answer 2

A means of acquiring knowledge through a systematic and objective investigation

Question 3

Define introspection

Answer 3

The 1st systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations

Question 4

What was the time period for Wilhem Wundt?

Answer 4

1832-1920

Question 5

Facts about Wilhem Wundts

Answer 5

• Wundt was the 1st person in history to be called a psychologist
• known as ‘father of psychology’
• Opened/established the 1st lab in Leipzig
• Published 1st book on psychology
• He believed the best way to study the structure of the mind was to break down the mind into basic elements (introspection)

Question 6

What book did Wilhem Wundt establish?

Answer 6

principles of physiological psychology

Question 7

Where did he open his lab?

Answer 7

Leipzig

Question 8

All introspections were recorded…..

Answer 8

• under strictly controlled conditions
• using standardised stimulus
• using standardised instructions

Question 9

What did recording the introspections do?

Answer 9

it allowed the procedures to be repeated, thus marking a separation of modern scientific psychology from its roots.

Question 10

What is empiricism?

Answer 10

The belief that knowledge comes from observation and experience alone (rather than being innate)

Question 11

Wundt’s founding and Empiricism, how are they different in terms of the effect they had on psychology?

Answer 11

• Wundt’s founding of experimental psychology was a good start to psychology being considered a science
• Empiricism is what caused psychology to rise

Question 12

The scientific approach to psychology was based on 2 assumptions, what are they?

Answer 12

1) That all behaviour seen is caused

2) If all behaviour is determined then it should be possible to predict how they would behave in different situations

Question 13

What are the 3 investigative methods?

Answer 13

1- Replicable
2- Systematic
3- Objective

Question 14

What does replicable mean?

Answer 14

the method and results can be replicable

Question 15

What does systematic mean?

Answer 15

observations and experiments are carried out in an orderly way

Question 16

What does objective mean?

Answer 16

researchers do not let preconceived ideas or bias influence the collection of data

Question 17

If the results are not replicable…….

Answer 17

then they are not reliable and cannot be accepted as being universally true

Question 18

Strength of a scientific approach

Answer 18

-Due to relying on a belief in determinism, they are able to establish causes of behaviour through empirical and replicable methods

Question 19

Strength of a scientific approach

Answer 19

• If scientific theories no longer fit the facts, they can be refined or abandoned, meaning that scientific knowledge is self-corrective

Question 20

Strength of a scientific approach

Answer 20

• Due to its reliance on objective and systematic methods of observation, knowledge acquired using the scientific method is more than just the passive acceptance of facts

Question 21

Limitations of a scientific approach

Answer 21

• Much of the subject matter of psychology is unobservable, therefore cannot be measured with any degree of accuracy

Question 22

Limitations of a scientific approach

Answer 22

• Lacks mundane realism due to concentration on objectivity and control in observation

Question 23

Limitations of a scientific approach

Answer 23

• Not all psychologists share the view that all behaviour can be explored scientific methods
• If human behaviour is not subject to the laws and regularities implied by scientific methods, then predictions became impossible and these methods

Question 24

Strength of introspection

Answer 24

P- One strength of introspection is that it is useful in psychological research
E - For example psychologist, Hunter used introspective methods as a way of making ‘happiness’ a measurable phenomenon, in which they found that teens tended to be upbeat when their energies were focused on a challenging task.
E- These psychological results were found through using the method introspection there is useful in psychology

Question 25

Weakness of introspection

Answer 25

P- Introspection isn’t entirely accurate
E-This is evident from psychologists acceptance of the claim that we have very little knowledge of the causes of, and processes underlying, our behaviour and attitudes.
E- This would mean that the researcher would not be fully aware of factors that could have been influential in the participants choice of a consumer item.This would, therefore, result in inaccurate results, making introspection inaccurate