Origins of Psychology: Wilhelm Wundt

Question 1

What is Wilhelm Wundt known as?

Answer 1

The ‘Father of Psychology’

Question 2

What were his aims for psychology?

Answer 2

To establish psychology as an independent branch of science.

Question 3

What 4 things did Wundt do to aid the development of psychology as a science?

Answer 3

• Set up the first psychology lab in 1879
• Published one of the first books on psychology
• Used controlled environments to establish general theories about mental processes
• Used scientific methods to study present experiences (structure of sentiation via introspection)

Question 4

Describe introspection…

Answer 4

• focuses on present experiences
• Participant focuses on an object while listening to a stimulus eg,, metronome
• Participants look inwards on their own sensations, feelings and mental images
• This is broken into components of sensations, feelings and mental images