Wilhelm Wundt: Father Of Modern Psychology

The late 19th century saw a change in the way people viewed the study of psychology and how patients with mental disorders were treated. In 1879, Wilhelm Wundt opened the Institute for Experimental Psychology at the University of Leipzig in Germany. This institution and Wundt himself made many advances in psychiatric treatment, which is why Wundt is known today as the father of modern psychology.

The Institution was very forward-thinking for its time. Wundt was passionate about separating science from philosophy and believed that the mind’s workings could be observed through scientific experiments and analysis using object controls and measurements. Within months, students interested in psychology began seeking opportunities at the Institution. Most of these students were from Germany, but Britain and the United States were also represented. Psychology laboratories soon began to model their methods after the Institution of Experimental Psychology. This shift is known as the beginning of modern-day psychology, and we have Wilhelm Wundt, the father of modern psychology, to thank for that.

Wilhelm Wundt: Early life

Wilhelm Wundt was born on August 16th, 1832, in Neckarau, Germany. His father was a Lutheran minister, and Wilhelm was homeschooled by his father’s assistant, Friedrich Muller, with whom Wilhelm eventually moved in. In 1851, Wilhelm Wundt entered the University of Tubingen. He transferred to the University of Heidelberg just a year later and began to major in medicine. After just three years at University, Wundt, at only 21 years old, published some of his work in medical journals.

Wundt did not want to be a doctor, let alone the father of modern psychology, and began studying under Johannes Muller in physiology at Berlin. In 1856, Wundt received his doctorate from Heidelberg and worked in physiology as a doctor for two years. 

Hermann von Helmholtz, master physicist, psychologist, and physiologist, invited Wundt to be his assistant. When Helmholtz moved to Berlin in 1871, Wundt was not selected as his replacement and instead went to the University of Zurich to teach inductive philosophy. By 1875, he was the first-class chair of philosophy at Leipzig. A few years later, in 1879, Wilhelm Wundt’s equipment room was finally recognized as the first laboratory in the world devoted to psychology. The birth of experimental psychology began here.

Wilhelm Wundt’s early contributions to psychology

During Wilhelm Wundt’s time at Leipzig, he sponsored nearly 200 doctorate candidate students. More than half of these students focused on psychology. Deciphering where Wilhelm Wundt’s ideas begin and end is difficult because many of his students carried out his thesis and experiments. One such student was Edward Titchener, who developed Wundt’s theory of structuralism.

Structuralism theory states that the conscious mind can be broken down into basic elements without damaging the whole mind. Wundt believed that introspection and reductionism could allow the conscious mental state to be studied under scientific observation. Wundt taught introspection as an intense form of self-examination and trained his students to make biased observations based on personal interpretation. This method was not used after the early 1920s, but it did prove to the scientific community that experimental behavior can be objectively measured. Wundt’s research laboratory was used to analyze consciousness by researching spiritual theories and examining abnormal behaviors in people. He used this observation to identify individual mental disorders.

Wundt is also considered the father of modern psychology in the field of cognitive psychology, in particular. He studied three main areas of mental functioning-feelings, images, and thoughts. These three areas are still the basis of perceptual processes used in cognitive psychology today.

Wilhelm Wundt created the first psychological research-based journal in 1881 called Physiological Psychology. He published many books and academic papers that are considered classics in the field of psychology today.

Wilhelm Wundt’s later work

Wilhelm Wundt was interested in more than cognitive psychology and physiology. He was also passionate about the natural history of man and the way the mind used language and developed a brand-new field called Völker-psychology, which examines language, religion, culture, history, law, myth, society, and history. There are ten volumes total published from 1900-1909. Wundt fervently believed that to understand someone’s thinking patterns, you must also understand their culture and history.

Wilhelm Wundt had achieved much through his research lab, including establishing experimental psychology as an independent discipline. Wundt also created the first systemic handbook for experimental psychology and was solely responsible for updating it over four decades. His last book was written in 1920 as a memoir of his professional experiments. He died that August at 88 years old.

Cognitive psychology

Wilhelm Wundt’s theory of structuralism influenced the development of cognitive psychology today. Cognitive psychology studies a person’s mental processes. Everything happens within your consciousness, such as emotions, language, learning, perception, problem-solving, and the ability to learn. Cognitive psychology is still considered a relatively new psychological research field but is a very popular subfield.

Cognitive psychology has been used to help with memory and disorders that affect decision-making. People who have suffered from brain injuries, have learning disorders, or improve their learning ability can benefit from cognitive psychology. Treating attention disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, also falls in cognitive psychology. Psychologists in this field can help to improve patients with ADHD focus and concentration skills.

When you should see a cognitive psychologist

Most cognitive psychologists work through research programs and universities, doing laboratory experiments and research. Cognitive psychologists can address patients' concerns with cognition, brain injury impact, and degenerative brain disorders.

Cognitive psychology can significantly benefit patients needing to change their thinking patterns. Some people get stuck in patterns of pessimistic thinking or negative emotions. Cognitive therapy can help alleviate the stress associated with this pattern of thinking. When patients participate in cognitive therapy, they can learn to replace negative thoughts with positive ones and better control their own emotions and thought processes.

How to find a cognitive psychologist

If you have decided that cognitive psychology is something you want to explore further, there are many ways to find the right person to get started.  If you don’t want to speak to anyone in person and aren’t sure how to get started, consider online therapy.

 With online therapy, you’re matched with a qualified mental health professional, usually within 48 hours of signing up. There are no waiting lists, and because you attend sessions from the comfort of your home, there’s no commute either. Research shows that online therapy is effective, too. One review of 14 studies found that online treatment was just as effective as in-person sessions. If you’re ready to learn more, contact an online mental health professional to get started.

Takeaway

Wilhelm Wundt contributed many things to modern psychology, including the first textbook and the first experimental lab, and greatly influenced the field of modern cognitive psychology. If you want to explore this field further and learn about how it can help you, online therapy can help.