The value of studying the mind is obvious
The problems with studying the mind are not so obvious
An extinct approach to studying the mind: The structuralist (or introspectionist) approach for studying conscious thoughts
Why study an approach that is extinct?
1. Historical reasonsWhat were the structuralists (introspectionists) trying to do? (Hint: How have physics, chemistry, and biology tried to understand their subject matter?)
a. To understand why behaviorism was so popular for so long.
b. Wilhelm Wundt
2. To appreciate a defining characteristic of science.
3. To understand the difficulty of studying thoughts.
Why Gestalt psychologists believed that the structuralist's mission was misguided.
(If you came from the Perception lecture, click here to get back to the Perception lecture)
How were the introspectionists (structuralists) trying to accomplish their mission?
Similarities of their approach to that of physical sciences
What is wrong with introspection?
The Wundt/Kulpe debate illustrates the problem with introspection from a scientific point of view
Wundt | vs. | Kulpe |
Cognitive therapies