Origins of psychology Flashcards
1
Q
Who was Wilheim Wundt?
A
A psychologist who believed that the human mind could be studied scientifically and established a lab in Leipzig.
2
Q
What is introspection?
A
A process where the person gains knowledge about their own mental states, enabling them to observe their inner world.
3
Q
What are the 2 assumptions of psychology?
A
- All behaviour is caused.
- All behaviour is predictable.
4
Q
What are the techniques used in the scientific method?
A
- Observation.
- Systematic- variables identified, controlled and measured.
- Replicable.
- Replicable results build theories.
5
Q
Evaluate Wundt and introspection.
A
- introspection is applicable to contemporary psychology.
- Wundt’s theories relied upon ‘unobservable’ responses, not many psychologists relied upon introspective ‘experimental’ methods.
- Introspection has little value.
6
Q
Why does psychology aim to be a science?
A
- Explains behaviour using empirical methods.
- Is about falsifiablilty much like natural sciences.
- Objectivity within psychology has enabled the progression of biopsychology/cognitive neuroscience.
7
Q
Why is psychology argued to not be a science?
A
-Much of the subject matter is unobservable.
