Origins

• Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour.
• In 1879, Wundt opened an institute for experimental psychology in Germany.
• Wundt helped to separate psychology from philosophy and focused on studying the mind in a much more structured and scientific way.
• Wundt used methods such as introspection to try and uncover what people were thinking and experiencing.
• Introspection is a psychological method which involves analysing your own thoughts and feelings internally.
• Wundt usde introspection to study sensation and perception. Participants were asked to describe their experiences when presented with a set of stimuli, and often their reaction times were recorded.
• Limitation Introspection

  • Doesn't explain how the mind works. It relies on people describing their thoughts and feelings which isn't always objective.
  • Doesn't provide data that can be used reliably, because people are reporting on their experiences.
• Even though Wundt's method of introspection wasn't that objective, his experimental approach to psychology did influence other areas of the subject.
• Strength - Introspection

  • Methods were well controlled and systematic
  • Standardised procedures
  • Considered a forerunner to later scientific approaches
• Strength - Psychology

  • Can claim to be scientific as it has the same aims as natural sciences.
  • Cognitive and Biological Approaches rely on scientific methods