Origins of Modern Psychology — Structuralism and Introspection

Birth of Psychology

• December $(1879)$ at the University of Leipzig
• Wilhelm Wundt and students, notably $(E. B. Titchener)$
• Measured the time lag between hearing a sound and pressing a telegraph key
• Goal: study the speed at which brain and nervous system translate input into action
• Key idea: mental processes can be measured; marks the start of psychology as a science

Structuralism and Introspection

• Focus on identifying the basic elements or structures of mental processes
• Approach called structuralism
• Method: introspection — looking inside to report conscious experiences as events occur

Method: Introspection in Practice

• Subject sits in a lab and reflects on what is going on mentally during stimuli
• Example: hear a sharp, repetitive clicking sound and report conscious feelings produced
• Strength: systematic, detailed self-reports; objective in its detailed observation

Key Figures

• Wilhelm Wundt ($(1832-1920)$): founded the first psychology laboratory
• Location: University of Leipzig, $(1879)$
• E. B. Titchener: notable student who helped develop and promote structuralism