The Emergence of Psychology as a Science

Question 1

Outline Wundt’s role in the emergence of psychology as a science.

Answer 1

-Published one of the first books on Psychology helping to establish it as an independent branch of science.
-Structuralist approach - presented stimuli in same order and same instructions.
-Used controlled environments to establish general theories.
-Used introspection in controlled studies.

Question 2

What is meant by introspection?

Answer 2

-A process by which one examines their conscious experience as objectively as possible.
-Conscious awareness broken into thoughts, images and sensations.

Question 3

Give 3 evaluation points for Wundt’s role in the emergence of psychology as a science.

Answer 3

-Methods used are subjective - difficult to objectively study unobservable matter.

-Difficult to replicate studies due to subjectivity.

-Focus on mental processes can be seen as a forerunner of the cognitive approach.

Question 4

Describe the role of Behaviourism in the emergence of psychology as a science.

Answer 4

1900s - introspection questioned.

-Proposed scientific psychology should only study phenomena that can be studied and observed directly.
-Focused on creating genera laws on how behaviour is learned.
-Brought methods of natural sciences to Psychology e.g studying observable phenomena.

Question 5

Describe the role of the cognitive approach in the emergence of psychology as a science.

Answer 5

1950s -reintroduced studying of mental processes.

-Made inferences about mental processes based on behaviour.
-Used controlled lab experiments, data more reliable + scientific than Wundt’s.
-Used computer + theoretical models.

Question 6

Outline the role of the biological approach in the emergence of psychology as a science.

Answer 6

1980s - advances in technology.

-Brain scanning techniques used - objectively study activity in brain.
-Use some of the most objective methods.

Question 7

Give 2 evaluations on the emergence of Psychology as a science.

Answer 7

Strength:
Modern Psychology can claim to be scientific - same aims as natural sciences, majority approaches rely on scientific methods e.g lab studies + objectivity.

Weakness:
Not all approaches use objective methods - Humanism focuses on subjective individual experience.
- Psychodynamic uses case studies.
- Risk of demand characteristics in any study