THE ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY
EMPIRICISM : Belief that all knowledge is from sensory experience
- Characterised by the use of scientific research methods on psychology
INTROSPECTION : Process of gaining knowledge about own mental & emotional
states by observing or examining their own thoughts or feelings
SCIENTIFIC METHOD : An investigation method that is →
Objective
Systematic
Replicable
Tests or modifies a hypothesis
WILHEM WUNDT (1832-1920)
● 1st psychologist to believe that the human mind could be studies
scientifically and accepted it as a science
● Referred to as the father of psychology
● Preferred experimental method of studying behaviour in his lab
● It included reaction time (taken to respond to stimuli) to various sensations
& perceptions.
● Aimed to study the mind by breaking down basic behaviours such as
perception into their basic elements
● Approach = structuralism
● Technique = introspection
● Released that not all aspects of human behaviour could be investigated
experimentally
➢ Eg – higher mental processes like learning languages
INTROSPECTION
● Process by which a person gains knowledge about their own mental &
emotional states
● Used to observe and make sense of outer and inner world
● Wundt suggested that with enough training; mental processes including
memory & perception could be observed this way
● Eg – in his studies – he provided a visual stimuli and asked participants to
describe their inner processes they experienced when looking at the stimuli
1
EMPIRICISM : Belief that all knowledge is from sensory experience
- Characterised by the use of scientific research methods on psychology
INTROSPECTION : Process of gaining knowledge about own mental & emotional
states by observing or examining their own thoughts or feelings
SCIENTIFIC METHOD : An investigation method that is →
Objective
Systematic
Replicable
Tests or modifies a hypothesis
WILHEM WUNDT (1832-1920)
● 1st psychologist to believe that the human mind could be studies
scientifically and accepted it as a science
● Referred to as the father of psychology
● Preferred experimental method of studying behaviour in his lab
● It included reaction time (taken to respond to stimuli) to various sensations
& perceptions.
● Aimed to study the mind by breaking down basic behaviours such as
perception into their basic elements
● Approach = structuralism
● Technique = introspection
● Released that not all aspects of human behaviour could be investigated
experimentally
➢ Eg – higher mental processes like learning languages
INTROSPECTION
● Process by which a person gains knowledge about their own mental &
emotional states
● Used to observe and make sense of outer and inner world
● Wundt suggested that with enough training; mental processes including
memory & perception could be observed this way
● Eg – in his studies – he provided a visual stimuli and asked participants to
describe their inner processes they experienced when looking at the stimuli
1
