Wilhelm Wundt (1832 – 1920) Chapter 4: .

Wilhelm Wundt

(1832 – 1920)

Chapter 4:

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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

Mechanism

Reductionism

Determinism

Empiricism

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

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KallColor.html

Apperception

Review of Zeitgeist

Mechanism

Reductionism

Determinism

Empiricism

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

Which theory does Wundt’s work support?

Personalistic theory?

Naturalistic theory?

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

Forgetting Curve

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Structuralism

Chapter 5:

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 Personality

Autocratic

But also helpful and kind at times

“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 …