The Origins of Psycholgy

Question 1

Who was known as ‘The Father of Psychology’?

Answer 1

Wilhelm Wundt

Question 2

When did Wundt open the first lab for psychology- the Institute of Experimental Psychology?

Answer 2

1879

Question 3

When did Wundt publish the first textbook on psychology?

Answer 3

1873

Question 4

What was Wundt interested in studying?

Answer 4

The structure of the human mind.

Question 5

How do labs create controlled experiments?

Answer 5

• NO extraneous variables
• Manipulate independent variables
• Measure dependent variables

Question 6

What method did Wundt use to study the human mind?

Answer 6

Introspection

Question 7

What was Wundt’s approach known as and why?

Answer 7

Structuralism
Experimented to find the basic building blocks (structures) of thought and investigate how they interact. Studied sensation and perception.

Question 8

Explain the method of introspection.

Answer 8

Highly trained assistants participated. Gave a stimulus (eg. ticking metronome) + reflect on experience. Given same environment and told same instructions.

Question 9

Positives of introspection.

Answer 9

Foundation for talking therapy ‘ink blot test’. Example Griffiths (1994): used study cognitive processes of fruit machine gamblers- asked to ‘think aloud’ into microphone whilst playing fruit machine, found they often personalised machine.

Question 10

Negatives of introspection.

Answer 10

Primarily non-observable responses: socially desirable, lack validity, can repot conscious not unconscious.
Subjective (varies from people), difficult establish general principles, unreliable.