the origins of psychology

Question 1

who opened first ever psychology only lab

Answer 1

Wundt

Question 2

when did Wundt open first psychology only lab

Answer 2

1879

Question 3

where did Wundt open first psychology only lab

Answer 3

Leipzig, Germany

Question 4

why is Wundt’s work significant

Answer 4

marked beginning of scientific psychology, separating it form its philosophical roots

Question 5

what was Wundt’s aim

Answer 5

to analyse the nature of human consciousness

Question 6

what did Wundt have the first attempt at

Answer 6

first systematic attempt to study the mind under controlled conditions

Question 7

what did Wundt’s method become known as

Answer 7

introspection

Question 8

introspection

Answer 8

first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic thoughts, images and sensations

Question 9

what does introspection break up conscious awareness into

Answer 9

-basic thoughts
-imaged
-sensations

Question 10

psychology definition

Answer 10

scientific study of the mind, behavior and experience

Question 11

science definition

Answer 11

a means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation. the aim is to discover general laws

Question 12

what did Wundt aim to use

Answer 12

standardised procedures

Question 13

what was one of Wundt’s main objectives

Answer 13

develop theories about mental processes such as language and perception

Question 14

how did Wundt and co-workers record experiences

Answer 14

recorded experiences of various stimuli into thoughts, images and sensations

Question 15

structuralism

Answer 15

isolating structure of consciousness as Wundt did

Question 16

what was set about stimuli Wundt used

Answer 16

always presented in the same order and same instructions were issued to all participants

Question 17

science

Answer 17

building knowledge through systematic objective measurement. its aim is to discover general laws

Question 18

what were the 3 approaches emerging psychology as a science

Answer 18

-behaviorists
-cognitive approach
-biological approach

Question 19

when was behaviorist approach

Answer 19

1900s

Question 20

how did behaviorists help with emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 20

-introspection was questioned, notably by Watson, as produced subjective data so was difficult to establish general rules
-Watson and Skinner proposed that scientific psychology should only study phenomena that can be observed objectively and measured

Question 21

how did cognitive approach help with emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 21

-digital revolution of 1950s gave a new generation of psychologists a metaphor for studying the mind
-likened mind to a computer and tested predictions of memory and attention using experiments
-ensured that the study of the mind was a legitimate and highly scientific aspect of discipline

Question 22

strength of Wundt’s work

Answer 22

-some of his methods are systematic and well controlled
-all introspection were recorded in controlled environment of the lab, ensuring extraneous variables are not a problem. procedures were standardised so participants received same information and tested in the same way –> suggests that Wundt’s research can be considered to be a forerunner to later scientific approaches such as behaviorist approach

Question 23

limitation of Wundt’s work

Answer 23

-some aspects of Wundt’s work would be considered unscientific today
-Wundt relied on participants self-reporting their mental processes. this data is subjective (influenced by a personal perspective) and participants may have hidden their thoughts. it is difficult to establish meaningful ‘laws of behaviour’ from such data. And general laws are useful to predict future behaviour, one of the aims of science –> suggests that some of Wundt’s early efforts to study mind were flawed and could not meet criteria of scientific enquiry

Question 24

strength of psychology as a science

Answer 24

-modern psychology claims to be scientific
-psychology has the same aims as natural sciences, to describe, understand, predict and control behaviour. the learning approaches, cognitive approach and biological approach all rely on use of scientific methods, for example, lab studies to investigate theories in a controlled and unbiased way –> suggests throughout 20th century and beyond, psychology has established itself as a scientific discipline

Question 25

limitation of psychology as a science

Answer 25

-not all approaches use scientific methods
-humanistic approach rejects scientific approach, preferring to focus on individual experiences and subjective experience. psychodynamic approach makes use of case studies which do not use representative samples. humans are also active participants in research which respond for example demand characteristics –> therefore a scientific approach to the study of human thought and experience may not always be desirable or possible

Question 26

evaluation of Wundt’s research

Answer 26

Wundt produced the first academic journal for psychological research and wrote the first textbook. he is often referred to as the founder of modern psychology. it is even suggested that Wundt’s pioneering research set the foundation for approaches that were to come, particularly the behaviorist approach and cognitive psychology

Question 27

evaluation of psychology as a science

Answer 27

the philosopher kuhn said that any science must have a paradigm: a set of principles, assumptions and methods that all people who work within that subject agree on. he said psychology is not a science because it does not have a paradigm as there is so much internal disagreement at its core