The origins of Psychology Flashcards
(17 cards)
Who is Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920)?
Wilhelm Wundt was a German scientist who is considered the first person to be referred to as a psychologist. He viewed psychology as the scientific study of conscious experience, using introspection to explore this view.
What is introspection?
Introspection is the process by which a person gains knowledge of their mental and emotional states by looking inward.
What is the scientific method?
The scientific method refers to the use of investigative methods that are objective, systematic, and replicable, which allow researchers to study and test hypotheses in a structured manner.
What is empiricism?
Empiricism is the belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience, suggesting that observation and experience are the only true sources of knowledge.
What do empiricists believe?
Empiricists believe that knowledge comes only from observation and experience, rather than from innate ideas or theoretical speculation.
What were Wundt’s goals of psychology?
Wundt’s goals of psychology were to identify the components of consciousness and to understand how these components combined to form our conscious experiences.
What are limitations of the scientific approach to psychology? (AO3 Evaluation)
Some psychologists argue that not all behaviors can be explored through scientific methods. By focusing on objective and controlled observations, psychologists create artificial situations that lack ecological validity, meaning human behavior may be impossible to test scientifically.
One criticism of introspection is the focus on ‘non-observable’ behavior. What was a limitation about Wundt’s approach? (AO3 Evaluation)
Wundt’s approach required participants to report on their conscious experiences, which are non-observable constructs. For example, processes like memory and perception cannot be directly observed, which makes the approach unreliable and difficult to replicate.
One strength of introspection is its use in contemporary research. (AO3 Evaluation)
Czikszentmihalyi and Hunter (2003) used introspection to measure happiness. They found that teenagers were more upbeat when engaged in challenging tasks compared to everyday tasks, suggesting introspection still has relevance in contemporary research.
What is Structuralism?
Structuralism is the attempt to understand the structure and characteristics of the mind by breaking it down into its basic components, which Wundt and his followers sought to identify through introspection.
What are the problems associated with introspection?
Problems with introspection include a lack of agreement between individuals, unreliable data, and the subjectivity of the process.
What is Reductionalism?
Reductionism is the idea that complex behaviors and phenomena can be broken down into simpler cause-and-effect processes for easier study and understanding.
What is a strength of reductionalism?
A strength of reductionism is that it can lead to a greater understanding of behavior by isolating and identifying causes of that behavior in simpler, more manageable terms.
What is a limitation of reductionalism?
A limitation of reductionism is that it oversimplifies human behavior. Since humans and their environments are so complex, reductionist explanations may fail to provide a full understanding of behavior.
What AO3 are you using for introspection?
Weaknesses: 1. The focus on ‘non-observable’ behavior. Strength: 2. Its use in contemporary research, such as in Czikszentmihalyi and Hunter (2003).
What AO3 are you using for the scientific approach?
Weakness: 1. Lacks ecological validity. Strength: 2. The reliance on objective and systematic methods.
A strength of the scientific approach is the reliance on objective and systematic methods. (AO3)
Scientific methods rely on the belief in determinism, which allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships through empirical, replicable methods. If scientific theories no longer fit the facts, they can be refined, leading to new theories and a self-correcting process.
