wilhelm wundt (1832 – 1920) chapter 4:
TRANSCRIPT
Why is Wundt called the “father of psychologyfather of psychology”?
Wundt actively promotedpromoted the field of psychology
The Founding of Psychology
journal in experimental psychology
college class
textbook
Wundt’s Firsts… laboratory (became model
for psychology laboratories everywhere)
trained a large number of the first generation of psychologists
Wundt’s Written Works First to use term “experimental
psychology”
Offered “proper” methods for psychology
Six editions of textbook Discussed problems that were the focus of
psychology research for years Examples: reaction time and psychophysics
The Founding of Psychology
Review of Zeitgeist Empiricism:
Basic question: How does the mind learn?
Before 17th c. Authorities – Aristotle Dogma – Church
After Descartes (and acceptance of empiricism)
experimentation observation
A poor student, always disliked school Did not get along with classmates, ridiculed by
teachers Original goal:
Get an MD – work in science and make a living Disliked medicine, switched to physiology
Student of Johannes Müller Lab assistant to Helmholtz
While working in physiology, conceived of independent, experimental science of psychology
Professor of philosophy at Leipzig: 1875 – 1920
Wundt’s life
Divided psychology into two parts: experimental
social
He argued that higher mental processes: Cannot be studied experimentally Are conditioned by language and culture Can be studied using (“unscientific”)
methods of sociology and anthropology
Wundt’s New Psychology
Subject matter of psychology:
consciousnessconsciousness
Consciousness made of many parts or elements
periodic table of the mind
Wundt’s New Psychology
Sensations Stimulation of a sense organ
leads to impulses that reach the brain
Classified by intensity duration sense modality
Wundt’s New Psychology
Sensations: Example of an experiment
Dropping ball
Wundt’s New Psychology
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Feelings Subjective reaction to stimuli Occur with sensations, but do not arise
directly from a sense organ Emotions = compounds of feeling
elements
Tridimensional theory of feelings Pleasure/displeasure continuum Tension/relaxation Excitement/depression
Wundt’s New Psychology
Feelings: Example of an experiment
Listening to a metronome
Wundt’s New Psychology
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Wundt’s three goals for psychology
Break conscious processes into their basic elements
Discover how these elements are organized
Determine the laws of connection governing the organization of the elements
Immediate experience: consist of sensations or feelings unbiased by interpretation
Mediate experience: influenced by past experience “interpretations” of meaning of sensations
Wundt’s conclusion: OnlyOnly immediate experiences should be
studied
Wundt’s New Psychology
Is the examination of one’s own mental state, “internal perception”
Previously used in psychophysics to study sensation
Wundt added precise experimental control over the conditions
Introspection
Wundt’s four rules Observers must know when the
procedure will begin Observers must be “in a state of
readiness or strained attention” The observation must be repeatable
numerous times The experimental conditions must be
varied in terms of control over stimulus manipulation
Introspection
Voluntarism
From “volition” = will Power of the will to organize mental
elements into higher-level thought processes
Emphasized the activity, not the elements
Process is NOT passive
process of combining elements into a whole concept, which often leads to emergent qualities
Opposite of the passive, mechanical associationism of most of the other British empiricists
Precursor to gestalt idea that the whole is different from the sum of its parts
Apperception
The fate of Wundt's psychology in Germany
In Germany, psychology remained a subspecialty of philosophy for 20 years
Lack of financial support from government In contrast, psychology in the United States grew
more rapidly
Other economic and political contextual forces Economic collapse of Germany after WWI Financial ruin of German universities Destruction of Wundt's laboratory during WWII
bombing
Criticisms of Wundtian psychology
Disapproval of method of introspection Differences in results obtained by different
observers Who is correct?
Introspection as a private experience Cannot settle disagreements by repeating the
observations in different subjects
Other psychologists suggested alternative methods, and succeeded in studying higher cognitive processes
Criticisms of Wundtian psychology
Wundt’s personal political views Blamed England for starting WWI Viewed the German invasion of Belgium as
self-defense
Other schools of thought: In Europe, Gestalt psychology and
psychoanalysis challenged and outshined Wundt's views
In the United States, functionalism and behaviorism overshadowed Wundtian psychology
Wundt’s legacy Rejection of nonscientific thinking Summarized and combined physiology and
philosophy Training the first generation of psychologists Severing of ties between psychology and non-
modern philosophy Served well in provoking rebellions Considered by many as the “most important
psychologist of all time”
Looking ahead… Psychology fraught with divisions and
controversies from the beginning
New ideas appearing other countries Darwin Freud Titchener
Germany did not remain the center of psychology
Ebbinghaus (1850-1909)
Gentleman scientist Read Fechner’s works Studied learning and memory with
nonsense syllables
Introduction
Wundt’s experimental psychology was introduced in America by Titchener Titchener claimed to be a loyal
disciple of Wundt, but in fact he altered these ideas radically
The label “structuralism” can only be applied to Titchener’s work
Titchener: Structuralism
Opposed Wundt's approach Titchener interested in
elements/parts, not “wholes” Much more mechanistic than Wundt
His observers were passive, impartial, mechanical instruments recording stimuli
“Titchener’s experimentalists”
Regular meetings to share research observations and listen to guest speakers
no women allowed!
Wundt wanted an atmosphere where he could smoke and speak freely without fear of offending anyone
Women “too pure to smoke” Refused Christine Ladd-Franklin's request to present her
research, which she actively protested for years
Titchener actively worked to advance women in psychology
Accepted women in his graduate programs
1/3 of the 56 doctorates awarded by him were to women, more than any other contemporary psychologist
Advocated for hiring female faculty Margaret Floy Washburn 1st women to
earn doctorate in psychology and Wundt's 1st doctoral student
On the other hand …