Lesson 5: Early Approaches to Psychology

Lesson 5: Early Approaches to Psychology - detailed flashcard - ChatGPT: • Structuralism (Wundt, Titchener) • Introspection as a method • Criticism and decline of Structuralism

Who is considered the founder of experimental psychology and structuralism?

Wilhelm Wundt.

• Established the first psychology lab in Leipzig in 1879.

• Sought to study the structure of the conscious mind using experimental methods.

• Known for voluntarism: the idea that the mind organizes its contents actively.

What is voluntarism in Wundt’s psychology?

Voluntarism is Wundt’s concept that the mind actively organizes content rather than passively receiving it.

• It emphasizes the role of will and purpose.

• Differentiates Wundt from passive associationist traditions.

What is introspection in Wundt’s experimental method?

Introspection was a rigorous, trained method of self-observation where individuals described their mental experiences in response to stimuli.

• Used in controlled lab settings.

• Aimed to identify basic elements of consciousness (sensations and feelings).

• Must be immediate, not reflective.

What are the key characteristics of Wundt’s introspection method?

• Systematic and replicable (conducted under controlled conditions).

• Immediate experience only (not memory or interpretation).

• Trained observers were required.

• Reports were about basic mental processes, not complex ideas.

What is the main difference between Wundt’s and Titchener’s approach to structuralism?

• Wundt focused on how the mind actively organizes experience (voluntarism).

• Titchener was more reductionist, seeking to catalog the elements of consciousness, similar to a periodic table.

Who is Edward Titchener, and what was his main contribution?

Edward Titchener was a student of Wundt and the founder of structuralism in the U.S.

• Translated and promoted Wundt’s work.

• Founded the “Society of Experimental Psychologists.”

• His version of structuralism focused on identifying mental elements via introspection.

What are the goals of Titchener’s Structuralism?

1. Describe the structure of the mind.

2. Identify the basic elements of conscious experience.

3. Understand how elements combine to form complex experiences.

What were the key elements of consciousness for Titchener?

Sensations, images, and affections (feelings).

• Sensations: Basic elements of perception.

• Images: Elements of ideas.

• Affections: Elements of emotion.

How did Titchener use introspection differently than Wundt?

• Titchener’s introspection was even more detailed and analytical.

• Required subjects to describe every component of an experience (e.g., color, brightness, clarity).

• Rejected interpretation; focused on pure sensory analysis.

What were some criticisms of introspection as a method?

• Lack of objectivity and reliability.

• Subjective: Results varied from person to person.

• Could not study children, animals, or those unable to introspect.

• Failed to capture complex mental functions like thinking and language.

What led to the decline of structuralism?

• Introspection was unreliable and unscientific.

• Couldn’t address practical problems or observable behavior.

• Emergence of new schools: Functionalism, Behaviorism, and Gestalt psychology.

• Titchener’s methods didn’t evolve with growing interest in applied psychology.

How did structuralism influence later psychology despite its decline?

• Emphasized systematic research and lab methods.

• Paved the way for cognitive psychology and neuroscience in terms of studying mental processes.

• Left a legacy of treating psychology as an empirical science.

What were the limitations of structuralism in terms of population and scope?

• Only trained adult human subjects could participate.

• Ignored animals, children, and individuals with mental disorders.

• Could not address issues like learning, development, and behavior.

What is the main difference between structuralism and functionalism?

• Structuralism: Focuses on what the mind is (its contents and structure).

• Functionalism: Focuses on what the mind does (its function in adaptation and survival).

What role did Wundt’s lab play in the history of psychology?

Wundt’s lab in Leipzig (1879) marked the formal beginning of psychology as a scientific discipline.

• First lab dedicated solely to psychological research.

• Used experimental methods to study immediate experience.

• Trained hundreds of students who spread experimental psychology worldwide.