Wundt known as ‘the father of psychology’ – moved from philosophical roots to controlled research. He set up the first psychologylaboratory in Germany. He wrote the first academic journal and textbook.
Promoted the use of introspection as a way of studying mental processes.
Introspection – systematic analysis of own conscious experience of a stimulus.
An experience was analysed in terms of its component parts e.g. sensations, emotional reaction.
His work paved the way for later controlled research and the study of mental processes e.g. by cognitive psychologists.