Origin

• Origins Of psychology: Wundt

  • 1st to call himself a psychologist
  • Lead to birth of experimental psychology
• Wundt

  • Believed human mind could be studied specifically
  • Aim=study the structure of the human mind
  • Best way is to break down behaviours such as sensation & perception into their basic elements
• Introspection-

  • Approach Wundt used was called introspection from the latin - 'looking into'
  • During it a person gains knowledge about their own mental and emotional states
• Introspection-

  • Allows us to observe their inner world
  • Allows us to gain insight into the nature of mental processes involved in perception
• Introspection-

  • Comparisons can be made & similarities can be identified and this allows for general theories about mental processes to be established
  • He realised that higher mental processes couldn't be studied in a strict controlled manner
• Scientific method:

  • Refers to methods of investigation that are objective, systematic and replicable
  • Formulation and testing of hypotheses
  • Empiricism - knowledge comes from observation and experience
• AO3:

  1. Criticised for producing 'subjective'. Varied greatly from person to person and meant that it wasn't possible to establish general principles.
• AO3:

  2. Use of scientific methods made a significant contribution to the emergence of psychology as a science as it paved the way for later psychologists to develop a scientific approach to studying mind and behaviour.
• AO3:

  3. Was criticised as it relied mainly on 'non-observable' responses. Results were not reliable meaning that Wundt's approach wasn't very successful.
• Sigmund Freud (Early 1900s):

  • Founder of the psychodynamic approach
  • Based on human behaviour and how it's influenced by unconscious memories, thoughts and urges
  • Also talk theory, how talking about problems can help alleviate them.
  • Personality into 3 parts
  • Mental state was influenced by 2