Origins of Psychology

• What is Psychology?

  The scientific study of a human mind and its functions, especially those functions affecting behaviour in different contexts.
• Where did psychology come from?

  The idea of psychology as a distinct branch of study is generally dated around 1880 when the first experimental lab was established.

  That said, the philosophical roots of psychology stretch much further earlier than this.
• What is introspection?

  First systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations.
• What is Science?

  A means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation.

  Aims to discover general law.
• What is Wundt's Lab?

  1879-Wilhelm Wundt opened the first ever lab dedicated entirely to psychological enquiry.

  Wundt's works is significant as it marked the beginning of scientific psychology, separating it from its broader roots.

  Aim was to try to analyse the nature of human consciousness and represented the first systematic to study mind under controlled conditions(introspection.)
• What are Standardised procedures?

  Wundt's main objective was to try and develop theories about mental processes, such as language and perception.

  They recorded their experiences of various stimuli, they were presented with, such as different sounds or objects.

  Divide their observations into three separate categories: thoughts, images and sensations.
• What was the emergence of psychology as a science?

  Science involves building knowledge through systematic and objective(unbiased) measurement.

  The aim is to discover general laws.
• What order did the approaches get established?

  1. Psychodynamic Approach
  2. Behaviourist Approach
  3. Humanistic Approach
  4. Cognitive Approach
  5. Social Learning Theory
  6. Biological Approach
  7. Cognitive Neuroscience
• What are the THREE major features for a subject to be deemed as scientific?

  Objectivity- Based on fact, rather than opinion.

  We do not want to be subjective(opinion based.)

  Replicability- Where we have the ability to repeat a study and tell findings aren't a 'fluke'.

  Research should be carried out using clear procedures.

  Empirical Methods- Methods that psychologists use where behaviour is observed and measured.

  Testing variables (things) scientifically.
• Who was Wundt?

  The father of psychology.
• Why did Introspection fail to make psychology scientific?

  Introspection was the first attempt to make psychology scientific however it was very subjective rather than being factual. It was opinion based and there was no evidence to back the study which is seen as invalid.
• Wundt and Introspection:

  Participants were given a stimulus and then they had to provide a description of their inner processes and thoughts.

  Wundt compared these responses and understood perception.
• What is perception?

  The ability to hear, see or be aware of something/someone through senses.
• Why wasn't introspection considered scientific?

  Problem 1:It was subjective rather than objective. The main issue was that it was opinion based and not factual.

  Problem 2: It wasn't measurable therefore it went against empirical methods.