PSYC 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter Module 1-3: Wilhelm Wundt, Experimental Psychology, Unconscious Mind

• School: Memorial University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1000
• Professor: susanwalling

Document Summary

1. 1 psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. Mental processes consist of the activity in our brain when engaged in thinking, observing the environment and using language (cognitive tasks) Behavior is the observable activities of an organism, often in response to their environment. Early explanations of human behavior were rooted in superstition and magical myths. Later, philosophers, beginning with ancient greeks, tried to develop more objective theories of human consciousness and reality. The work of such early philosophers such as hippocrates, Socrates plato, aristotle contributed to the later formation of psychology as a natural science. The theories by the english naturalist about human evolution shifted scientific attention towards human origins and behavior. In 1879, physiologist wilhelm wundt (1832-1920) opened the fist psychology laboratory in leipzig germany. Wundt believed that the study of the mind and behavior was meant to be conducted using experimental methods of other science such as chemistry and physics.