William Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory in 1879 and used introspection as a method to study the human mind. Introspection involved subjects reporting their conscious thoughts while performing tasks in an attempt to examine internal mental processes. However, introspection received criticism as a research method due to issues with subjects being able to accurately recall and report their thoughts. Over time, psychology began to emerge as a more scientific field with the development of different approaches to studying the mind and addressing limitations of early methods like introspection.

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Year 1
The Origins of Psychology

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Today’s Objectives
 To outline and evaluate the process of introspection, as a
method for examining the human mind.
 To understand the development of psychology as a science, by
recreating a timeline for the history of psychology.

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William Wundt – The Father of Psychology
 William was the first person to be called a psychologist.
 He opened a psychology laboratory in Germany in 1879
 He wanted to explore the human ‘mind’…

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Introspection
 Wundt’s method of studying the human mind was introspection.
 Question: What do you think introspection involves?
We will now try to study our
minds, using introspection…
Task: On the next slide you will
be presented with a problem. In
the back of your exercise book,
write down all your conscious
thoughts while you are trying to
solve the problem. Do not censor
any thoughts.

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Introspection
Task: In the back of your exercise book, write down all your
conscious thoughts while you are trying to solve the
problem. Do not censor any thoughts.
A man has to get a fox, a chicken, and a sack of
corn across a river.
He has a rowboat, and it can only carry him and
one other thing.
If the fox and the chicken are left together, the
fox will eat the chicken.
If the chicken and the corn are left together,
the chicken will eat the corn.
How does the man do it?

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The Solution
 The man and the chicken cross the river, (the fox and corn are
safe together), he leaves the chicken on the other side and goes
back across.
 The man then takes the fox across the river, and since he can't
leave the fox and chicken together, he brings the chicken back.
 Again, since the chicken and corn can't be left together, he leaves
the chicken and he takes the corn across and leaves it with the
fox.
 He then returns to pick up the chicken and heads across the river
one last time.

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Introspection
Questions to consider:
 What were your conscious
thoughts?
 How did you try and work out the
problem?
 Compare your thoughts with other
people on your table. Were your
thoughts similar/different. Are there
any patterns.

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What is introspection?
 Introspection means “looking into”
 It is the examination of ones thoughts.
 Subjects would be presented with a problem to solve or
something to memorise. They would be asked to report back
their inner experiences.
 Introspection should be obtained during task performance rather
than after to avoid memory problems.

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Evaluating Introspection
Task: What are the problems with introspection? In your groups,
discuss what issues there are with introspection as a method for
studying the human ‘mind’…
 The reports may be distorted (deliberately), you may pretend to
have more positive thoughts.
 There will always be a delay between the conscious experience
and reporting the existence, we may forget parts of it.
 Subjects reports from introspection could not be replicated
therefore not reliable.

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Year 1
Psychology as a Science

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Psychology as a Science
 Different psychological approaches emerged at different times and in
your induction you encountered four approaches to psychology.
 Task: In groups, put the approaches in the correct order in
which they emerged, telling the story of how psychology
emerged as a science. Also try to match the ‘date’ which goes
with each approach. For example…
 You have 15 minutes.
15 Minutes

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Psychology as a Science
 Task: Walk around to view the other group’s story, does your
group want to make any changes?
 You have 5 minutes before you will present your stories…
5 Minutes

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Exam Style Questions
Task: Write an answer to the following questions, in your exercise
books:
1. Explain what is meant by introspection (3 marks).
2. Outline two criticisms of introspection as a method of
investigation (4 marks).
3. Briefly explain the emergence of psychology as a science (4
marks).

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