Wundt's Method Of Introspection

Question 1

Define introspection

Answer 1

a systematic analysis of one’s own conscious experience of a stimulus.

Question 2

What was Wundt known for?

Answer 2

• he opened the first laboratory dedicated to psychology in 1879.
• he attempted to distinguish psychology from philosophy by working in his laboratory to study the mind in a more structured, scientific way.
• the opening of his lab is often regarded as the beginnings of modern psychology.

Question 3

What was the focus of Wundt’s method of introspection?

Answer 3

trying to understand mental processes such as perception and language.

Question 4

How did Wundt’s method of introspection work?

Answer 4

people were presented with standardised sensory events and asked to report their thoughts, images, and sensations.
training was given to carry out this analysis to make the data objective rather than subjective.

Question 5

What were the strengths of Wundt’s approach?

Answer 5

• focus on mental processes through introspection can be seen as a forerunner of the cognitive approach.
• standardisation of instructions and procedures.
• controlled environment.

Question 6

What were the limitations of Wundt’s approach?

Answer 6

• introspective methods were not reliably reproduced.
• subjectivity of Wundt’s methods in contrast to the objectivity of the scientific process.
• qualitative data is difficult to interpret and compare.