set up 1st lab in Germany in 1879, published 1st book, help establish the subject as an independent branch of science
used controlled environment to establish theories about mental processes
used scientific method to study structure of sensation and perception using introspection, humans experiences should be analysed in terms of its components
ideas later developed by cognitive psychologists
Introspection
focuses on present experiences
An individual’s conscious experience is systematically analysed.
The individual would focus on an object, whilst listening to a stimulus e.g. metronome and look inwards noticing sensations, feelings and images.
Analysis is broken up into components of thoughts, images and sensations
