Origins of Psychology

Question 1

What is Wundt’s significance to psychology?

Answer 1

• opened first psychological lab in Germany 1879
• he wanted to document & describe the nature of human consciousness
• recorded conscious thoughts to break them down into constituent parts (introspection)

Question 2

What is introspection?

Answer 2

• the first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind which involved breaking up conscious awareness into thoughts images and sensations
• involved Wundt asking pps to focus on an everyday object & they were then asked to notice the thoughts, feelings & images in their mind
• thoughts were broken down into separate elements

Question 3

How did Wundt use controlled methods in introspections?

Answer 3

• all introspections were recorded under strictly controlled conditions using the same stimulus each time
• same standardised instructions applied to all participants so procedures could be replicated

Question 4

What was Watson’s contribution to psychology as a science?

Answer 4

• he argued that introspection produced data that was too subjective & varied between people making it difficult to generalise principles
• he was highly critical of the ‘private’ focus of mental processes & proposed that psychology should be restricted to studying what could be observed & measured (behaviourist approach was born)