Origins Of Psychology: Wundt And Introspection AO3 Flashcards
(4 cards)
✅Why can Wundt’s introspective methods be considered scientific?
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.
✅ How did Wundt’s work influence future research in psychology?
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.
❌ Why are Wundt’s introspective methods considered unscientific?
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.
❌ What is the problem with introspection focusing on ‘non-observable’ behaviour?
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.