Origins of Psychology (AP P2) Flashcards
1
Q
Wundt
A
- ‘Principles of Physiological Psychology’ book 1879
- Known as the ‘Father of Psychology’
- Opened the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany
- Produced 1st academic journal and textbook for psychology
- Wanted to describe the nature of human consciousness in a carefully controlled environment, ensuring the isolated variable (IV) is the one affecting the outcome (DV)
2
Q
What is introspection?
A
- Means ‘looking into’ in Latin
- To investigate the human mind
- Highly controlled and systematic way
1) pps presented with stimulus (e.g. turning a light on/ticking metronome)
2) Inspect own thoughts: emotions, sensations, thoughts
3) draw conclusions: compare responses to see similarities/differences
3
Q
Wundt’s methodology
A
- Used controlled procedures and standardised instructions
- Every pp in the same conditions
- Stimuli presented in the same order
- If not the results would be confounded
4
Q
Structuralism
A
- Wundt’s approach became known as structuralism
- Introspection led to identify the structure of consciousness by breaking it up into basic structures, thoughts, images and sensations (isolate components, be specific)
- Marked the beginning of scientific psychology
5
Q
Are Wundt’s methods subjective?
A
- Own version of events/opinion
- Wundt interpreted himself (subjective)
- Relied on pps reporting their private mental process, may have hidden some thoughts
- Difficult to establish meaningful ‘laws of behaviour’
- Methods would not meet the criteria of scientific enquiry
- Validity compromised
6
Q
What is reductionism?
A
- Oversimplifying something complex
- Goes against the humanistic approach
- Isolate the variables you are investigating
- Without reductionism it’s almost impossible to have scientific method
- Tries to explain behaviours that can only be seen in a lab, ignoring other influences on pps
- Risks oversimplifying, loose context, looses the individuals experience with all the factors involved
