Origins Of Psychology: Wundt And Introspection AO3

Question 1

✅Why can Wundt’s introspective methods be considered scientific?

Answer 1

Wundt conducted introspections in a controlled lab setting, using standardized procedures so that all participants were tested in the same way. This standardization is a key feature of scientific research.

Question 2

✅ How did Wundt’s work influence future research in psychology?

Answer 2

Wundt’s use of introspection paved the way for later cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience, making his work foundational for the study of mental processes.

Question 3

❌ Why are Wundt’s introspective methods considered unscientific?

Answer 3

Introspection relies on participants self-reporting their private thoughts, which are subjective. Participants may not be fully honest or aware of their own mental processes, which reduces the scientific validity of the data.

Question 4

❌ What is the problem with introspection focusing on ‘non-observable’ behaviour?

Answer 4

Wundt’s method required participants to describe their conscious experiences, which are unobservable processes like memory and perception. This makes his results difficult to replicate, reducing reliability.