Origins of psychology

• AO1 - In the beginning

  In contrast to the natural sciences (physics, chemistry and biology), Psychology is a relatively new scientific discipline.  

  It has its roots in 17th and early 19th century philosophy and was indeed once known as experimental philosophy.  

  Early influences included René Descartes, and his concept of Cartesian dualism (the mind and body are separate entities; the brain is not the same as the mind) 

  = This is a clear starting point for psychology.
• AO1 - In the beginning

  The work of John Locke and his concept of empiricism, the belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience and can be studied using the scientific method also had an influence on the emergence of psychology as a science.  

  Finally, the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin set the stage for the emergence of psychology as we know it today.

  Empirical method = use of objective, quantitative observation

  in a systematically controlled, replicable situation, in order to test or refine a theory
• AO1 - Wilhelm Wundt

  In 1879 Wilhelm Wundt opened the first 

  psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany. 

  He is often considered to be ‘the father of 

  psychology’

  His approach to psychology was to study the 

  structure of the human mind, by breaking down 

  behaviours into their basic elements, hence his approach became known as structuralism.  

  Structuralism = isolating structure of consciousness (conscious thoughts)
• AO1 - Introspection

  Wundt used introspection to investigate the 

  human mind.  Introspection comes from 

  Latin and means ‘looking into’.  Basically, 

  participants were asked to reflect on their 

  own cognitive processes and describe them. 

  Wundt established psychology as a science 

  by using the scientific method – his ideas 

  would lead to multiple different psychological perspectives.
• AO1 - Wundt & science

  Wundt’s new ‘scientific’ approach to psychology was based on two major assumptions.

  1. All behaviour is seen as being caused (determined)
  2. If behaviour is determined, then it should be possible to predict how human beings would behave in different conditions (predictability)

  This technique used to explore these assumptions became known as the scientific method
• Objectivity/Objective: Basing findings on fact, rather than opinion.

  Subjectivity/Subjective: Basing findings on opinion, rather than fact. 

  Replicability: The ability to repeat a study & achieve the same findings.
• AO1 - Psychology as a science

  Psychology has four goals: 

  1. Description – tells us “what” occurred
  2. Explanation – tells us “why” a behaviour or a mental process occurred
  3. Prediction – identifies conditions under which a future behaviour or mental process is likely to occur

  Change – applies psychological knowledge to prevent unwanted behaviour and to bring about desired change.
• AO3 - Introspection - Unreliable

   1.Behaviourist psychologists such as Watson questioned the scientific status of introspection as it produced subjective data. The participants were recalling their own conscious thoughts meaning the results vary from participant to participant.

  2. Conscious thoughts are mental processes that cannot be observed and measured. A truly scientific psychology should be focusing on phenomenon that can be observed and measured. This is known as empirical methods.
• (+)Knowledge acquired is accurate and produces facts due to the use of objective and controlled studies.

  (+)Allows the causes of behaviour to be established and theories developed which can then be tested and modified. Once the cause is established treatments can be developed. E.g. the development of psychological therapies for depression.
• (-)Focuses on being objective and conducting research in strictly controlled environments. This tells us little about how people will behave in their natural environments.

  (-)There are certain areas of the human behaviour and mind that can not be observed therefore cannot be measured using the scientific method.