Origins of psychology

• science


  a means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation, aiming to discover general laws
• Scientific Processes -

  • Predictability
  • Control - empirical methods
  • Falsifiability
  • Replicability
  • Objectivity
  • Generalisability
• In 1879 Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany
• Wundt believed that that the best way to systematically study the mind was to break down behaviours such as sensation and perception into their basic elements
• Introspection


  The first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations
• Wundt's work paved the way for later controlled research and the study of mental processes - eg. cognitive psychology
• Evaluation of Wundt -

  • Subjective - self reports may be distorted, participants may pretend to have more positive or socially acceptable thoughts
  • Delay between the conscious experience and reporting the existence, participants may forget some parts
• Strengths of Wundt's research -

  • used the same stimulus each time (images or a ticking metronome)
  • used the same standardised instructions for participants each time to try and ensure accurate replicability
• Introspection is still used today in therapy and studying emotional states