Origins of Psychology

• What is psychology defined as?

  The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context.
• What significant event occurred in psychology in 1879?

  • Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology lab in Germany.
  • Psychology emerged as a distinct discipline.
• What did Freud establish in the 1900s?

  He established the Psychodynamic approach emphasizing the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior.
• Who established behaviorism in 1913?

  John B. Watson and Skinner.
• What did the humanistic approach emphasize in the 1950s?

  It emphasized the importance of self-determination and free will.
• What significant development occurred in the 1960s regarding mental processes?

  The cognitive approach reintroduced the study of mental processes in a more scientific way.
• What theory did Albert Bandura propose in the 1960s?

  He proposed the Social Learning Theory, focusing on the role of cognitions in learning.
• What became established in the 1980s in psychology?

  The biological approach became established as a scientific perspective.
• What does cognitive neuroscience bring together?

  It brings together the biological and cognitive approaches.
• What was the purpose of Wundt's lab opened in 1879?

  • To describe human consciousness through introspection.
  • It was designated to have high controls.
• What technique did Wundt use to study human consciousness?

  He used introspection, which involved recording thoughts and breaking them down.
• What is introspection?


  A technique used to study the mind by breaking up consciousness into basic structures of thoughts, images, and sensations.
• What is structuralism in psychology?

  An approach that focuses on the components of the mind and how they relate to one another.
• How did Wundt aim to make introspection more objective?


  By training people to analyze their experiences systematically and using standardized sensory events.
• What was a limitation of introspection noted by John B. Watson?

  Introspection is subjective and varies from person to person.
• What did behaviorism focus on instead of introspection?

  It focused on scientific processes such as controlled lab experiments.
• What was a significant advancement in the biological approach in the 1980s?

  Advances in technology led to an increased understanding of the brain.
• What are the criticisms of introspection?

  • Introspection is subjective and varies from person to person.
  • It relies on non-observable behavior, lacking reliability.
  • Some psychological subjects are largely unobservable.
• What are the strengths of introspection?

  • It can be the only method to study internal processes.
  • Provides insight into conscious experiences.
• What is the scientific method in psychology?

  • The use of methods that are objective, systematic, and replicable.
  • Characterized by empirical evidence and experimentation.
• What is empiricism in psychology?

  • The belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experiences.
  • Emphasizes observation and experimentation.
• What is the focus of structuralism?

  • Breaking down mental processes into their basic parts.
  • Understanding how components of the mind relate to one another.
• How did the 1960s change the approach to studying mental processes?

  • Focused on investigating mental processes in a highly scientific way.
  • Moved away from introspective methods to more objective measures.
• What is the significance of brain scanning in psychology?

  • It allows for the study of biological processes in the brain.
  • Advances understanding of the relationship between brain function and behavior.
• Why is Wundt referred to as the "father of experimental psychology"?


  He established the first formal laboratory for psychological research.