Origins of psychology

• Psychology


  the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those functions affecting behaviour in a given context
• Starting point of psychology

  It began 17th and early 19th century philosophy and was once known as experimental philosophy.  

  early influence was Rene Descartes and his concept of Cartesian dualism, meaning the mind and body are separate entities

  John Locke's concept of empiricism said psych can be studied using the scientific method
• Wilhelm Wundt


  1879 opened the first psychology laboratory in Liepzig Germany. Considered to be the father of psychology.

  Structuralism: break down behaviours into their constituent parts
• Introspection


  Introspection means 'looking into'. Participants were asked to reflect on their own cognitive processes and describe them. Wundt established psych as a science by using the scientific method
• The scientific method


  Wundt's new scientific approach was based on 2 assumptions that all behaviour is seen as being caused (determined) and if behaviour is determined then it should be possible to predict how human beings would behave in different conditions (predictability)
• strength of scientific method - knowledge acquired is accurate and produces facts due to the use of objective and controlled studies
• Strength of scientific method - 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
• Weakness of scientific method - focuses on being objective and conducting research in strictly controlled environments. this tells us little about how people will behave in their natural environment
• weakness of the scientific method - there are certain areas of human behaviour and mind that cannot be observed therefore cannot be measured using the scientific method