The origins of Psychology

Question 1

Define Introspection?

Answer 1

Introspection was the first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up the concious awareness into three basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations.

Question 2

Describe Wundt’s role in the development of psychology. (Total 6 marks A01)

Answer 2

Wilhelm Wundt was know as ‘father of psycholgy’ as
his work marked the beginning of scientific psychology - he moved it from its philosophical roots to controlled research.
He set up the first psychology labatoratory in Liezpig, Germany in 1879.
He promoted the use of Introspection as a way of studying mental processes, which was a systematic study. His work paved the way for future controlled research such as the behaviourist approach.

Question 3

What was Structuralism?

Answer 3

Isolating the structure of consciousness

Question 4

EXAM QUESTION
Millie is asked to do a class presentation on introspection. As part of her presentation she said, ‘Introspection is thinking about our own thoughts.’ After the presentation, her classmates said they had learned very little about introspection. Explain what else Millie could have said about the major features of introspection so that her classmates would be better informed. (Total 4 marks)

Answer 4

First systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up the concious awareness into three basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations.
For example Wundt would give participants a ticking metrenome and ask them for their thoughts, images and sensations. He would focus on being objective and systematic.

Question 5

What are the evaluations?

Answer 5

Unscientific today, methods were systematic and well controlled

Question 6

Evalution - systematic and well-controlled methods

Answer 6

One strength of Wundt’s work is that some of his methods were systematic and well-controlled.
Wundt carried out introspection in a lab environment ensuring extraneous variables did not effect the experiment.
The procedures and instructions were standardised, so that all participants received the same information and were tested in the same way.
This was to maintain a systematic approach to the process.
Wundt’s research was considered significant to later scientific approaches as his his work set a foundation.

Question 7

Evalution - considered unscientific today

Answer 7

One weakness of Wundt’s research would be that it would be considered unscientific today.
Wundt would heavily rely on participants self-reporting their mental processes. This data is subjective and some participants may keep their thoughts hidden and not dislose it.
This makes it harder to establish general ‘laws of behaviour’. And general laws are useful to predict future behaviour, one of the aims of science.
This sugguests Wundt’s early efforts to study the mind were flawed and would not meet the criteria of scientific enquiry.