The origins of Psychology (textbook)

• What method did Wundt use to observe mental processes?


  Introspection
• How did Wundt's studies of perception involve participants?

  Participants were presented with controlled stimuli and asked to describe their inner experiences.
• What was the significance of comparing different participants' reports in Wundt's studies?

  It allowed for the establishment of general theories about perception and mental processes.
• What philosophical view is central to psychology as a discipline?

  • Empiricism
  • Knowledge comes from observation and experience
  • Opposes the idea of innate knowledge
• Who is considered the first psychologist?

  Wilhelm Wundt
• What did Wundt's book "Principles of Physiological Psychology" establish?

  It established psychology as a unique branch of science.
• What is the definition of empiricism in psychology?

  Empiricism is the belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience.
• What are the key characteristics of the scientific method in psychology?

  The scientific method is objective, systematic, and replicable.
• Why is replicability important in psychological research?

  If results are not replicable, they are not reliable and cannot be accepted as universally true.
• What does the research process in psychology involve beyond empirical observation?

  It also necessitates the use of reason to explain the results of observations.
• What was a major criticism of Wundt's structuralist approach?


  It relied primarily on nonobservable responses.
• How did early behaviorists differ from Wundt in their research methods?

  Early behaviorists achieved reliably reproducible results and discovered generalizable principles.
• What are the assumptions of the scientific approach in psychology?

  • All behavior is caused (determinism)
  • Behavior can be predicted in different conditions (predictability)
• What does it mean for scientific knowledge to be self-corrective?

  It means that if scientific theories no longer fit the facts, they can be refined or abandoned.
• Why might scientific methods be considered inappropriate for studying human behavior?

  If human behavior is not subject to scientific laws, predictions become impossible.
• What did Nisbett and Wilson (1977) claim about introspection?

  They claimed we have very little knowledge of the causes of our behavior and attitudes.
• What is a limitation of introspection according to Nisbett and Wilson?

  Introspection cannot uncover implicit attitudes that exist outside of conscious awareness.
• How has introspection been used in recent psychological research?

  • Csikszentmihalyi and Hunter (2003) used it to study happiness.
  • Participants recorded thoughts and feelings at random times.
  • Findings indicated that focus on challenging tasks increased happiness.
• What does the study by Csikszentmihalyi and Hunter reveal about the use of introspection?

  It shows that introspection can help understand momentary conditions affecting happiness.
• Who published the first book on psychology in 1873?

  Wilhelm Wundt
• What was the title of Wilhelm Wundt's first book on psychology?

  Principles of Physiological Psychology
• How did Wundt's book contribute to the field of psychology?

  It established psychology as a unique branch of science with its own subject matter and methods.
• Who was the first person in history to be called a 'psychologist'?

  Wilhelm Wundt
• How prolific was Wilhelm Wundt as a writer?

  If you read his works at the rate of 60 pages a day, it would take two and a half years to finish them.
• What is empiricism in psychology?

  • The belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience.
  • Characterized by the use of the scientific method in psychology.
• What is introspection?


  • The process of gaining knowledge about one's own mental and emotional states.
  • Involves examination or observation of conscious thoughts and feelings.
• What does the scientific method refer to in psychology?

  • Use of investigative methods that are objective, systematic, and replicable.
  • Involves formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
• What are the key characteristics of scientific observation?

  • Objective
  • Systematic
  • Replicable