Wundt’s World
What is experimental psychology?
This term refers to the precise measurement of mental processes, something Wundt pioneered in his laboratory.
What is the personal equation?
This concept explains why individuals differ in their sensory observations and timing of events.
Who is George Berkeley?
This philosopher argued that reality exists only in minds and their ideas, suggesting objects exist only when perceived.
What is associationism (or mechanistic associationism)?
James Mill’s perspective on the mind is often described by this term, emphasizing associations between simple ideas.
What are Helmholtz’s (or general physiological) experiments?
Before founding his psychology lab in 1879, Wundt was influenced by these physiological studies of the human nervous system.
Who is Friedrich Bessel?
He noticed that different astronomers recorded slightly different times for the same star’s passage, leading to the concept of the “personal equation.”
What is empiricism?
Both Locke and Berkeley believed in this principle, stating all knowledge comes from experience.
What are simple ideas?
According to James Mill, these basic elements of thought combine to form more complex mental processes, like bricks in a wall.