Wilhelm Max Wundt (1832–1920) was a German philosopher, physician, and psychologist who is widely regarded as the founder of experimental psychology. He pioneered the use of physiological methods in the study of psychology and created the first laboratory for psychological research. Wundt was a major influence on twentieth-century psychology, particularly in his use of the scientific method to study the structure of the mind. His work also had a profound impact on the development of the field of social psychology.
Wundt was born in Neckarau, Germany, in 1832. He studied medicine at the University of Heidelberg, where he also lectured for several years. In 1874, he became the first professor of psychology at the University of Leipzig. He established the first laboratory for psychological research in 1879, and he wrote the first comprehensive textbook on psychology, Principles of Physiological Psychology, in 1883.
Wundt’s research focused on the structure of the mind and the relationship between conscious experience and behavior. He believed that the mind could be studied experimentally, and he developed a variety of experimental techniques to study the structure of perception and the effects of different stimuli on behavior. He also conducted extensive research on the structure of language and the concept of time.
Wundt believed that psychology should be a science, and he made extensive use of the scientific method in his research. His work had a major influence on the development of the field of psychology, as well as on the development of the field of social psychology. He advocated for the use of the scientific method in the study of both human behavior and the structure of the mind.
Wundt’s work has had a lasting impact on psychology and continues to be studied and discussed today. His influence on modern psychology is undeniable, and his research has shaped the field of psychology in many ways.
References
Boring, E. G. (1950). A History of Experimental Psychology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Gross, R. D., & Earnst, C. (2014). Wilhelm Max Wundt (1832–1920). In Oxford Bibliographies in Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199756223/obo-9780199756223-0044.xml
Wundt, W. M. (1883). Principles of Physiological Psychology. Leipzig: Engelmann.