Origins of psychology

Question 1

What is Wundt known as and why?

Answer 1

• Known as the ‘father of psychology’
  -1 879 Wundt opened up the first lab in Leipzig Germany> marked the beginning of scientific discovery separating it from philosophical routes

Question 2

What was Wundt’s aim?

Answer 2

• To analyse the nature of human consciousness
• first systematic attempt to study the mind under controlled conditions

Question 3

What was Wundt’s pioneering method known as?

Answer 3

Introspection

Question 4

What is introspection?

Answer 4

• process of looking into > first systematic attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images & sensations > known as structuralism
• believed mental processes could be observed systematically
• He asked participants to describe their inner mental processes (thoughts, images, sensations)
• in response to controlled stimulus e.g. ticking metronome
• used standardised procedures and were conducted under controlled conditions allowing replication

Question 5

What is meant by emergence of psychology as a science?

Answer 5

• psychology developing as a scientific discipline

Question 6

How have behaviourists enabled the emergence of psych as a science ?

Answer 6

• through scientific methods of behaviourist (study of observable behaviours only)
• dominated psychology for 50 years

Question 7

How have cognitive psychologists enabled the emergence of psych as a science ?

Answer 7

• emergence of cognitive approach legitimised the study of mental processes as scientific by making inferences 1950s using objective techniques such as memory experiments and computer based models such as the MSM

Question 8

How has the biological led to the emergence of psych as a science?

Answer 8

• uses experimental methods to explain behaviour as having a physical cause > exploring the brain and genetic influence on behaviour such as fMRI 1980s

Question 9

What is a strength of Wundt’s methods?

Answer 9

• some of his methods were systematic & well–controlled
• all introspections were recorded in a controlled environment of the lab (ensured EV’s not a factor)
• procedures & instructions were standardisede.g. each p received the smae stimuli and instructions
• Wundt considered forerunner for later approaches

Question 10

What is a weakness of Wundt’s study?

Answer 10

• aspect of Wundt’s research considered unscientific
• Wundt relied on participants self reporting their mental processes which is subjective and difficult to verify
• participants may have also hidden thoughts
• difficult to establish universal ‘laws of behaviour’
• Wundt’s efforts flawed > lacks objectivity

Question 11

What is a strength of modern psychology?

Answer 11

• Modern psych can claim to be scientific
• psych has same aims as natural sciences (describe, understand, predict behaviour)
• Learning approach, biological & cognitive all rely on scientific methods e.g. lab studies to investigate theories in a controlled & unbiased way
• psych has established itself as a scientific discipline

Question 12

What is a weakness of modern psychology?

Answer 12

• not all approaches use objective methods
• humanistic approach rejects the scientific approach» prefer to focus on individual & subjective experience
• Psychodynamic approach makes use of case studies (unrepresentative samples)
• humans are active in research-respond to demand characteristics
• scientific approach not always desirable or possible

Question 13

What is another weakness of modern psychology?

Answer 13

• psychology may not be a true science because it lacks a unified paradigm
• Kuhn argues that a science must share a set of assumptions, methods > paradigms
• However psychology includes a range of conflicting approaches each with a different view on how behaviour should be studied > suggesting that psychology is pre-paradigmatic