Origins of psychology

• Introspection is the process by which a person gains knowledge about their own mental and emotional states.
• When we reflect on our thoughts, emotions, and memories and examine what they mean, we are engaging in introspection.

  Introspection involves informally examining our own internal thoughts and feelings.
• In 1879 Wundt opened the first scientific laboratory dedicated to studying Psychology.

  Wundt is believed to be the founder of modern Psychology.
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  Participants engaging in introspection, may display demand characteristics.Some people may not tell the truth when asked to describe their thoughts or feelings.
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  Wundt himself believed that introspection was limited in scope, and that other methods would be necessary if all aspects of human psychology were to be investigated.
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  today psychologists argue that introspection was not really scientific. Skinner claims the results of introspection are subjective and cannot be verified because only observable behavior can be objectively measured.
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  Introspection is still useful in modern psychology

  Hunter et Al (2003) used introspection to make happiness measurable.

  They gave group of teenagers beepers which went off throughout the day, when they then had to write down their thoughts & feelings before the buzzer went off

  Introspection was used to understand the momentary conditions that effect happiness