Origins of Psychology

Question 1

Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 1

1832 - 1920
German Scientist
Said to be the 1st psychologist
Famous book - ‘Principles of Physiological Psychology’ published in 1873

Question 2

Traditional definition of psychology

Answer 2

scientific study of conscious experience

Question 3

Two goals in psychology

Answer 3

• to identify components of consciousness

- how these components result in our conscious experience

Question 4

Introspection

Answer 4

• internal perception
• process by which someone looks at their own conscious experience as objectively as possible so that the human mind reflects any other aspect of nature observed by scientists

Question 5

Wundt’s introspection

Answer 5

• used in very specific experimental conditions
• external stimulus is designed to produce a scientifically observable experience in ones mind, and one that is repeatable

Question 6

2 requirements of Wundt’s introspection

Answer 6

1st requirement - use of trained or practiced observers
2nd requirement - use of repeatable stimuli, producing the same response in the subject, allowing full attention so that the procedure was standardised

Question 7

Reasons for these requirements

Answer 7

• crucial, as the aim was to remove the interpretation aspect from the findings
• and countering the argument that knowing if a person is observing their mind correctly is impossible, as only they can see it

Question 8

Structuralism

Answer 8

• attempting to understand structure and characteristics of the mind
• investigated in a psychology lab at the university of Leipzig 1879

Question 9

Wundt et al. experiments

Answer 9

• would conduct experiments on variables such as reaction time
• however the process remained quite subjective and there was very little agreement between individuals

Question 10

death of structuralism

Answer 10

• died in 1927 as a result of the subjective process and lack of agreement, as well as the death of Edward Titchner