Wundt And The Development Of Psychology

Question 1

How do we learn about human behaviour and the minds?

Answer 1

Tests - observe behaviour
Explain behaviour
Ask questions
Experiments
Electrodes to measure brain waves
Measure biological changes e.g. heart rate, brain scan, sweat response

Question 2

How can we learn about our own thoughts and feelings?

Answer 2

Metacognition - thinking about thinking
Use a scale
Self reflection
Use comparisons

Question 3

Features of psychology

Answer 3

Hypothesis
Paradigm
Empirical measurements
Testing
Replicability
Falsifiability
Theory construction

Question 4

The difference between science and philosophy

Answer 4

Science investigates ideas through observation to create objective facts, whereas philosophy uses logic to acquire knowledge and to justify ideas

Question 5

Origins of psychology

Answer 5

Psychology is derived from philosophy

Question 6

Philosophy

Answer 6

The study of knowledge, reality and existence

Question 7

Cartesian dualism

Answer 7

The mind and body are separate

Question 8

Empiricism

Answer 8

Knowledge is derived from sensory experience

Question 9

Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theories

Answer 9

social behaviour is inherited and adaptive

Question 10

Structuralism

Answer 10

The structure of consciousness

Question 11

Introspection

Answer 11

Studying your own consciousness

Question 12

What was William Wundt’s focus?

Answer 12

Introspection

Question 13

How did Wundt use the introspection method?

Answer 13

Participants objectively observed and recorded their own thoughts and feelings

Question 14

What are the problems with introspection

Answer 14

• observations can be distorted
• there is a delay between the thoughts and recording them
• Can’t be replicated easily, so not very reliable