Orgins Flashcards
(12 cards)
What was significant about Wilhelm Wundt’s lab opened in 1879?
Wilhelm Wundt opened the first ever lab dedicated entirely to psychological enquiry in Leipzig, Germany. His work marked the beginning of scientific psychology, separating it from its broader philosophical roots. Wundt aimed to analyse the nature of human consciousness and made the first systematic attempt to study the mind under controlled conditions. His pioneering method became known as introspection.
What were the standardised procedures Wundt used in his research?
Wundt and his co-workers recorded their experiences of various stimuli, such as different objects or sounds, dividing their observations into three categories: thoughts, images and sensations. For example, participants might be given a ticking metronome and report their thoughts, images and sensations. The stimuli were always presented in the same order, and the same instructions were given to all participants.
What is structuralism in relation to Wundt’s work?
Structuralism is the method of isolating the structure of consciousness by analysing its components (thoughts, images, sensations) systematically. This was the approach used by Wundt and his co-workers to study mental processes.
Evaluation of Wundt’s work — Scientific (PEEL)
P: One strength of Wundt’s work is that some of his methods were systematic and well-controlled, making them scientific. E: All introspections were recorded in the controlled environment of the lab, ensuring extraneous variables were minimized. E: Procedures and instructions were carefully standardised so all participants received the same information and were tested the same way. L: This suggests Wundt’s research can be considered a forerunner to later scientific approaches in psychology, such as the behaviourist approach.
Evaluation of Wundt’s work — Subjective data (PEEL)
P: One limitation is that aspects of Wundt’s research would be considered unscientific today. E: Wundt relied on participants self-reporting their mental processes, which produced subjective data influenced by personal perspective. E: Participants may have hidden some thoughts, making it difficult to establish meaningful laws of behaviour, which are useful to predict future behaviour. L: This suggests some of Wundt’s early attempts to study the mind were flawed and would not meet scientific enquiry criteria.
What is science, and how did psychology become a science?
Science involves building knowledge through systematic and objective (unbiased) measurement, aiming to discover general laws. Psychology has become a science by adopting systematic and objective methods to study behaviour, allowing it to develop general laws and be seen as scientific.
What criticism did the behaviourists have of introspection in the early 1900s?
Behaviourists, notably John B. Watson, questioned the value of introspection because it produced subjective rather than objective data, making it difficult to establish general laws. They proposed psychology should study only observable and measurable phenomena.
How did the behaviourist approach change psychology in the 20th century?
Behaviourists focused on observable behaviours using carefully controlled experiments. Their approach dominated scientific psychology for 50 years, emphasizing objective measurement.
What impact did the cognitive approach have in the 1950s?
The cognitive approach used the computer metaphor to study the mind (e.g., the multi-store model). Cognitive psychologists tested predictions about memory and attention experimentally, legitimizing the scientific study of the mind again.
How has the biological approach advanced scientific psychology since the 1980s?
The biological approach used advanced technology like fMRI and EEG to study live brain activity. Genetic testing and physiological investigations have improved understanding of gene-behaviour relationships, advancing scientific psychology.
Evaluation of modern psychology — Scientific strength (PEEL)
P: A strength of modern psychology is that it claims to be scientific. E: Psychology shares the natural sciences’ aims: describe, understand, predict and control behaviour. E: Approaches like learning, cognitive and biological use scientific methods such as lab studies to investigate theories in controlled, unbiased ways. L: This suggests psychology has established itself as a scientific discipline throughout the 20th century and beyond.
Evaluation of modern psychology — Limitations due to subjective data (PEEL)
P: A limitation of psychology is that not all approaches use objective methods. E: The humanistic approach rejects the scientific method, focusing on individual and subjective experiences. E: The psychodynamic approach uses case studies, which are not representative, and participants may show demand characteristics. L: Therefore, a scientific approach to studying human thought and experience may not always be desirable or possible.
