Overview
This lecture introduces the origins of psychology as a science, focusing on the work of Wilhelm Wundt and the development of different psychological approaches.
Origins of Psychology
- Psychology originally studied by philosophers before becoming a scientific discipline.
- Wilhelm Wundt, known as the "father of psychology," separated psychology from philosophy by using scientific methods.
- Wundt's background was in physiology, influencing his scientific approach to studying the mind.
Wundt’s Contributions and Introspection
- Wundt established the first laboratory for experimental psychology in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879.
- Used introspection, a systematic self-observation of conscious experience, as a research method.
- Introspection involved presenting participants with a stimulus and having them report their thoughts and sensations.
- Experiments were highly controlled and standardized to ensure reliability and repeatability.
- Limitations of introspection include subjectivity and the inability to objectively verify self-reported experiences.
The Emergence of Psychology as a Science
- Wundt’s methods paved the way for future objective study of the mind and behavior.
- Trained many graduate students who spread psychological research internationally.
- Wundt wrote the first psychology textbook, "Principles of Physiological Psychology."
Development of Different Approaches in Psychology
- Behaviourist approach (early 1900s) focused on observable behavior using controlled experiments (e.g., B.F. Skinner’s work).
- Cognitive approach (1960s) studied internal mental processes through objective, scientific experiments.
- Biological approach (1980s) used new technology to study genetics and brain chemistry’s role in behavior.
- Cognitive neuroscience (present) combines cognitive and biological approaches, using brain scanning to observe live brain activity.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Introspection — Systematic self-observation of one’s own conscious experiences in response to stimuli.
- Behaviourism — Approach focusing on observable behavior, emphasizing the environment and learning through conditioning.
- Cognitive Approach — Approach focusing on internal mental processes such as thinking and memory.
- Biological Approach — Approach examining genetic, neurochemical, and brain structure influences on behavior.
- Cognitive Neuroscience — Field combining cognitive psychology and neuroscience to study brain functions related to mental processes.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the playlist for all psychological approaches linked in the course description.
- Watch the upcoming video on the behaviourist approach for further learning.
- Read about Wundt’s "Principles of Physiological Psychology" for historical context.