AQA A-LEVEL: Approaches - Origins of Psychology

ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY

WILLIAM WUNDT 1832-1920

  • A founder of psychology, believed behaviour + human mind can be studied scientifically 
  • Created on of the first psych labs in Leipzig Germany
  • Influenced by biologists, philosophers and medical experts

STRUCTURALISM

  • Breaking down the human mind, thoughts and sensations into basic elements 
INTROSPECTION

  • Method of data collection observing and reporting thoughts, feelings and sensations in terms of intensity, duration and quality

AN EMERGING PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

HYPOTHETICO-DEDUCTIVE MODEL


FALSIFIABLE - All theories must be able to be disproved if not then it's not scientific
REPLICABLE - Repeating should result in consistent findings, achieved via standardised procedures
OBJECTIVE - Not letting preconceived ideas or biases influence the collection of data
GENERAL LAWS - Evidence which develops into generalisable principles of all human behaviour
SYSTEMATIC - Evidence of recordings e.g introspection

EVALUATION

Research Support from Hunter et al 2003
  • Introspection + Structuralism has led to useful general laws when looking at what makes teenagers unhappy or happy through the day. They questioned their own thoughts and when their energies were focused on challenging tasks they were more upbeat. 
Introspection is SUBJECTIVE
  • It introduces personal opinions and beliefs in its nature, the ability to create general laws in this manner is limited. Lack of quantitative data and statistical analysis. Lacks scientific rigour like fMRI scans, not open to observation.
Introspection lacks ACCURACY

  • Activities in an artificial environment fail to represent real experiences so it lacks validity. We have little knowledge of processes underlying our own behaviour 
Scientific Approach lacks GENERALISABILITY
  • Wundt's sample sizes were too small, much of the subject matter is unobservable and bland descriptions of sensations nd perceptions is not OBJECTIVE research


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