Wundt

• What is psychology in contrast to the natural sciences?

  Psychology is a relatively new scientific discipline.
• What is psychology in contrast to the natural sciences?

  Psychology is a relatively new scientific discipline.
• What was psychology once known as?

  Psychology was once known as experimental philosophy.
• What was psychology once known as?

  Experimental philosophy.
• When did Wilhelm Wundt open the first psychology laboratory?

  In 1879.
• Why is Wilhelm Wundt often considered the father of psychology?

  He established the first psychology laboratory and published foundational work.
• Why is Wilhelm Wundt often considered 'the father of psychology'?

  He established psychology as a science and opened the first psychology laboratory.
• What approach did Wundt use to study the human mind?

  He used structuralism to break down consciousness into basic elements.
• What approach did Wundt use to study the human mind?

  He used structuralism to break down consciousness into basic elements.
• What technique did Wundt use in his studies?

  Introspection.
• What technique did Wundt use in his studies?

  The technique is known as introspection.
• What does introspection mean?

  It is the examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes.
• What does introspection mean?

  Introspection is the examination of one's own mental and emotional processes.
• What does the term 'introspection' derive from?

  It comes from Latin and means 'looking into'.
• What was Wundt's argument regarding conscious mental states?

  He argued that they could be scientifically studied using introspection.
• What were Wundt's assumptions about behavior?

  All behavior is caused and should be predictable in different conditions.
• How did Wundt establish psychology as a science?

  By using the scientific method.
• How did Wundt's scientific method work?

  Highly trained assistants reflected on their experiences with stimuli and reported their thoughts and feelings.
• What are the two major assumptions of Wundt's scientific approach to psychology?

  1. All behavior is seen as being caused (determined).
  2. If behavior is determined, it should be possible to predict behavior in different conditions (predictability).
• What three areas of mental functioning did Wundt concentrate on?

  Thoughts, images, and feelings.
• How does introspection work according to Wundt?

  Highly trained assistants reflect on their experiences after being given a stimulus.
• What are the limitations of introspection as a method in psychology?

  • Subjective data makes it difficult to establish general principles.
  • Results are not reliably reproduced by other researchers.
  • Focus on private mental processes limits scientific study.
• What types of mental functioning did Wundt concentrate on?

  Thoughts, images, and feelings.
• Why was the scientific status of introspection questioned by the beginning of the 20th century?

  Because it produced subjective data that was hard to generalize.
• What were the limitations of introspection by the beginning of the 20th century?

  • Data produced was subjective.
  • Difficult to establish general principles.
  • Results were not reliably reproduced by other researchers.
• Who criticized introspection and what did they propose?

  Watson criticized it and proposed that psychology should study observable phenomena.
• Why did Watson criticize introspection?

  He argued it produced subjective data and focused on private mental processes.
• What did behaviorist psychologists bring into psychology?

  • Language and rigor of natural sciences.
  • Methods of controlled lab experiments.
• What approach emerged as a result of the criticism of introspection?

  The behaviorist approach.
• What was the impact of the cognitive revolution of the 1960s on psychology?

  • Mental processes became a legitimate area of study.
  • Cognitive psychologists make inferences based on lab tests.
• How did behaviorist psychologists contribute to psychology?

  • Brought the language and methods of natural sciences into psychology.
  • Used carefully controlled lab experiments.
• How does the biological approach utilize experimental data?

  • It uses advances in technology.
  • Techniques like fMRI and EEG are employed.
• What was the impact of the cognitive revolution of the 1960s on psychology?

  • Study of mental processes became a legitimate area.
  • Cognitive psychologists make inferences about mental processes based on lab tests.
• How does the biological approach utilize experimental data?

  • Takes advantage of advances in technology.
  • Uses scanning techniques like fMRI and EEG.