Origins of psychology

• Science - Gaining knowledge through the use of objective investigation
• Wundt

  > Known as the 'father of psychology'

  > Set up the first psychology lab in Germany in 1879 and published one of the first books on psychology, helping to establish psychology as an independent branch of science

  > Controlled environments

  > Used scientific methods to study the structure of sensation and perception using introspection, arguing human experiences should be analysed in terms of components eg. emotions
• Wundt AO3

  :) Moving psychology from its philosophical roots

  > Controlled environments with a standardised procedure to study thoughts and feelings using the same stimulus every time (ticking metronome)

  > Same standardised instructions

  > Therefore, increased the ability to replicate the pieces of research and increased psychologys status
• Wundt AO3

  :( Research was replicable but not reliable

  > Introspection focuses on participants subjective experiences so findings vary from person to person

  > Hard to establish general principles of human behaviour

  > Behaviourist psychologists believe psychology should only study behaviour that can be observed and measured

  > Behaviourist approach born, increasing psychology's scientific status
• Wundt AO3

  :( Considered unscientific today

  > Relied on participants self reporting their mental processes

  > Data is subjective and varies person to person

  > Difficult to establish general principles and predict future outcomes

  > Therefore, some of Wundts early efforts to study the mind were flawed and would not meet the criteria of science