PSYC 1000U Study Guide - Peripheral Nervous System, Central Nervous System, Sympathetic Nervous System
Document Summary
December 1879, at germany s university of leipzig. 2 men were helping wilhelm wundt, create an experimental apparatus. Wundt was seeking to measure atoms of the mind the fastest and simplest mental processes. Science of psychology organized into different branches or schools of thought. These early schools included structuralism and functionalism. Three other schools- gestalt psychology, behaviourism, and psychoanalysis. Structuralism an early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structural elements of human mind. Titchener aimed to discover structural elements of mind. Titchener method was to engage people in self-reflective introspection (looking inward) Introspection prove somewhat unreliable, varied from person to person and experience to experience. Philosopher psychologist william james thought it more fruitful to consider evolved functions of our thoughts and feelings. James assumed that thinking developed because it was adaptive it contributed to our ancestors survival. Consciousness servers as a function, enables us to consider our past, adjust to our present circumstances, and plan our future.
