origins of psychology

origins of psychology

1. key terms

   • psychology
     • a scientific study of the huma mind and its functions, especially those functions affecting behaviour in a given context  
   • science
     • a means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation. the aim is todiscover general laws.
   • introspection
     • the first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations

2. Wundt

   • first lab opened Leipzig Germany 1879
     • to document and describe human conscience
     • isolating structures (structuralism)
   • control
     • used scientific methods
     • recorded under strict controlled conditions using the same stimulus each time
   • standardised
     • same instructions each time
       • repeated (replicable) results

3. psychology as a science

   • early behaviourists
     • 1913 Watson question introspection
       • data was subjective
       • varied from person to person
       • only observable characteristics can be measured
         • this lead to the behaviourist approach
   • scientific approach
     • focused on scientific approaches
       • in a lab
       • modern day tech
         • eeg
         • fmri

4. philosophy

   • C16 Decartes suggested mind was independent to body
   • C17 experience obtained by senses (behaviourist)
     • don't inherit knowledge or instincts
   • C18 Darwin theory of evolution (biological)