C4 - Origins of Psychology

Question 1

Wundt & introspection

Answer 1

• Wundt established the first psychology lab, to describe nature of human consciousness
• Introspection, first systematic experimental attempt to study mind
• Standardised instructions, pts had to report thoughts, images, sensations
• Structure of consciousness broken up into thoughts, images, & sensations

Question 2

Evaluations of Wundt & introspection (SL)

Answer 2

S - Aspects of Wundt’s work are scientific
L - Other aspects of Wundt’s research are subjective

Question 3

Evaluations of Wundt & introspection - Aspects of Wundt’s work are scientific (S)

Answer 3

• Introspections in controlled lab
• Standardised procedures so all pts recieved same info & tested in same way
• Research forerunner to later scientific approaches in psychology

Question 4

Evaluations of Wundt & introspection - Aspects of Wundt’s research are subjective (L)

Answer 4

• Relied on self-reporting private mental processes - subjective data
• Hard to establish meaningful ‘laws of behaviour’
• Efforts to study mind were naive & not scientific

Question 5

Emergence of Psychology as a science

Answer 5

• 1900s Early behaviourists rejected introspection
• 1930s Behaviourist scientific approach dominated psychology
• 1950s Cognitive approach studied mental processes scientifically
• 1980s Biological approach introduced technological advances

Question 6

Evaluations of the emergence of Psychology as a science (SL)

Answer 6

S - Research in modern psychology can claim to be scientific
L - Some approaches use subjective data

Question 7

Evaluations of the emergence of Psychology as a science - Research in modern psychology can claim to be scientific (S)

Answer 7

• Pyschology has same aims as natural sciences (describe, understand, predict & control behaviour)
• Learning, cognitive & biological use scientific methods (e.g. controlled, unbiased lab studies)
• Throughout 20th century, psychology established as a science

Question 8

Evaluations of the emergence of Psychology as a science - Some approaches use subjective data (L)

Answer 8

• Humanistic doesn’t formulate general laws of behaviour, psychodynamic uses case studies
• Study active pts who respond to demand characteristics
• Scientific approach to study of human thought & experience not possible