AQA Psychology (A-Level) - Approaches - Origins of Psychology Exam Questions & Answers Rated A+

Wilhelm Wundt (A01) - ANSWER-Believed all aspects of human behavior could be studied scientifically. Approach allowed psychology to be accepted as a distinct science, and experimental psychology as the favoured method of studying human behavior. Studied only aspects of behavior with the ability to control under experimental conditions. Criticism (evaluation) of Wundt's methods (A03) - ANSWER-In Wundt's structural approach, the methods were unreliable, due to the reliance on non-observable responses, such as memory and perception. Therefore, the lack of reliability lead to the inability to replicate the introspective results. Criticism (evaluation) of Wundt's methods (A03) - ANSWER-Early behaviourists, like Pavlov and Thorndike already achieved reliable and replicable results, discovering principles with the ability to be universally generalized (to all humans). Introspection (A01) - ANSWER-The process by which a person gained knowledge regarding their own emotional and mental states, which enables us to observe our own inner world. Wundt's perception of introspection (A01) - ANSWER-Wundt claimed with training, such process like memory and perception could be observed systematically, due to their occurrence with introspection. Example of Wundt's perception studies (A01) - ANSWER-Participants were presented with controlled stimuli (such as auditory tones or visual images), before requested to give a description of the inner process experienced when looking at the image or listening to the tone, permitting Wundt to compare the different responses to the same stimuli and allow him to establish theories about perception and other mental processes. Introspection (A03) - ANSWER-Introspection is criticized due to the lessened accuracy and its reduced usage, yet is still used. Criticism of introspection (A03) - ANSWER-Not as accurate, due to how we don't possess the knowledge of the causes and processes of our attitudes and behavior.