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The history of psychology since 1800
The history of psychology since 1800
The history of psychology since 1800
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Wilhelm Wundt's Psychology: Judgment
It is almost impossible to write historically informed essays about any given topic in modern psychology without making reference to the work of Wilhelm Wundt. In part, this is because he produced a tremendous amount of written work (over 53,735 published pages1), and because he is widely regarded as the first experimental psychologist.2 So, it’s no surprise that Wundt has something to say about the psychology of judgment. Given the historical context in which his work took place, however, you might be surprised to learn that Wundt was keenly aware of both the problems with traditional associationist accounts of psychology and the temptations of psychologism. His system of psychology, while acknowledging the associative characteristics of some types of thought, takes pains to stress the non-additive nature of higher cognitive acts and fights to preserve the independence of psychology (and the rest of the “special sciences,” including logic and ethics) from physiology. In this paper, I’ll briefly review the basics of Wundt’s approach, detail the neo-Humean roots of his psychology, discuss how he attempts to embellish those roots with some apperceptive greenery, and summarize his position regarding psychologisms.3 While Wundt’s motives are to be admired (…and despite his historical significance), I'll conclude that his attempt to be true to the physiological roots of the psychology of judgment while still respecting its ultimate independence vis-à-vis logic was a failure.4
First, the basics. In his Principles of Physiological Psychology, Wundt lays down the outline of a psychology that will be constructed using experimental techniques analogous to those of physiology (famously, a rigorous ...
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...h the individual mind with habits, inclinations, archetypes, and stereotypical modes of perception and cognition. But these influences from without must work on those internal principles and laws of thought that comprise ‘the universal characteristics of humanity’” (p. 161).
12 Wundt emphasizes the importance of education for conditioning the will in a logical manner: “Rather must education pay most attention to that inner volition which is occupied with ordered thinking. To make this strong, to make this able to resist the distracting play of associations, is its most important and also one of its most difficult tasks” (Introduction, p. 147).
13 Introduction, pp. 148-149.
14 Lectures, p. 314.
15 Robinson, p. 167, quoting from the Lectures, p. 365.
16 Robinson, p. 172.
17 Wellek (1967), encyclopedia entry on Wundt, Wilhelm, p. 350.
The World of Psychology. (2002). A Pearson Education Company. Boston, MA: Samuel Wood & Ellen Green Wood p. 593
The notion of humanity is a picture intricately painted using the ideals and morals that define us as human beings in contextual society. The audience is influenced by the morals and values present through techniques in texts to paint their own image of humanity. Our ideals and morals that differ in texts through context, scrupulously shape our image of humanity
Law abiding citizens should have the right to protect themselves against criminals. You are less likely to suffer an injury when attacked if you are carrying a handgun, as opposed to other methods of self-protection. The right to carry a concealed handgun is protected by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Constitution states “the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed” (ProCon.org 1).Carrying a handgun could keep a lot of people from being killed during a public shooting incident. Concealed handguns protect citizens from violent crimes such as burglary and robbery. Most criminals are armed and you don’t have much of a chance of survival if you are not carrying a
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Passer, M., Smith, R., Holt, N., Bremner, A., Sutherland, E., & Vliek, M. (2009). Psychology; Science of Mind and Behaviour. (European Edition). New York.
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The development of psychology like all other sciences started with great minds debating unknown topics and searching for unknown answers. Early philosophers and psychologists such as Sir Francis Bacon and Charles Darwin took a scientific approach to psychology by introducing the ideas of measurement and biology into the way an indi...
The psychological genre as it relates to sociological and medicinal matters has gained an increasing amount of scientific approval. Impartiality and the scientific method are both integral components to a psychologist’s mode of practice. However, even the most esteemed of psychologists can only speculate at what makes human beings act the way they do. Absolutes play no function in psychology. Everything is relative and open to conjecture. Theologians give us their visions or thoughts about life. In the field of psychology, there have been many different regions of interest and speculation.
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