Reality can change from one moment to the next. The advances produced by science allow us to obtain knowledge about different theoretical currents from research that provides data on reality. There are sciences such as medicine that base their theoretical models on studies carried out by outstanding researchers throughout history.
The same thing happens with the discipline of psychology, since there have always been people who have been interested in understanding the thoughts, emotions and behaviors of human beings. If you find it interesting to know the research that is done to corroborate real facts, we suggest you continue reading. In this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about What is experimental psychology: history, principles, guidelines and examples.
What is experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a discipline that studies the most important mental processes through various scientific methodologies such as observation, experimentation on some fact of reality and testing hypotheses.
What does experimental psychology study? This branch of psychology analyzes behaviors, emotions and thoughts from experiments produced in controlled environments and evaluated. In this sense, variables are isolated that can alter the results produced in order to obtain greater veracity in each particular investigation.
History of experimental psychology
To provide greater knowledge about the characteristics of experimental psychology, we are going to expose the historical events that marked the development of this scientific discipline. Originally, the history of experimental psychology had its beginnings in the research carried out by psychologist Wilheim Wundtwho created the first experimental psychology laboratory in 1876, in which tests based on scientific postulates were carried out.
It should be noted that there is a direct relationship between this branch of psychology and , since the objective of various experiments was to understand the behavior of a human being or animal when faced with a specific stimulus.
After a few years, John Watson developed a theoretical framework about behaviorism based on his research. This psychologist addressed the study of human behavior when faced with different stimuli that were happening to understand the responses that were given to each situation. However, it is important to note that Watson only emphasized behavior and isolated the emotions and thoughts that could be associated.
Furthermore, contributions from different areas of knowledge, such as biology, also had an impact on the development of experimental psychology as a science. In this way, the idea that psychology lacks scientific validity is opposed since it delimits an object of study that has variables that alter the results.
Principles of experimental psychology
In general terms, experimental psychology is based on certain specific parameters so that the results obtained from the research carried out are valid and reliable. In the following items, we will address the principles of experimental psychology:
- Empiricism: defends that reality is produced through lived experiences. Therefore, it is important that experimental psychology experiments take into account observations that can be contrasted with other past experiences. In this article you will find more information about .
- Probability: When a hypothesis is tested, it must be testable. For this reason, the theory can be accepted or refuted depending on the results obtained from each investigation. In turn, time is another variable that affects, since it is necessary that both the hypothesis and the theory be accepted over time so that they are established as general postulates.
- Parsimony: The research that is developed must have the quality of being simple. For this reason, when starting an experiment, the simplest theoretical postulate is usually chosen, since it will be more complex to verify if the difficulty is greater.
- Determinism: each event, circumstance or fact of reality is determined by previous events that affect its characteristics. In other words, it is not possible to question or test theories without having knowledge about the background that determines them.
Orientations of experimental psychology
Experimental psychology brings together conceptualizations from various theoretical branches of psychology, resulting in the determination of a set of concrete theoretical principles. Specifically, the guidelines of experimental psychology are:
- Behaviorism: This area of knowledge is based on the study of human behaviors based on tests that must be evaluated and accepted to be considered reliable. In this way, behaviorism takes into account the emotional variables that can alter behaviors.
- Cognitivism: This theoretical current emphasizes addressing the information that people receive from external stimuli and how they process it. In this sense, cognitivism focuses on the study of thoughts that appear in different situations and contexts. To do this, it is based on the idea that the person receives information and manifests behaviors in response to the thoughts that that information produces.
- Gestalt: the person’s perception takes a main role, since it is based on the theoretical postulate of addressing entire phenomena instead of in parts. In other words, the whole is more important than the sum of the parts. When experiments are carried out, it has been seen that people tend to perceive a stimulus in its entirety even though it can be divided. This responds to internal mental processes that are not visible or observable. Therefore, its premise is that perception allows us to complete objects that are seen as incomplete based on a series of specific laws and postulates.
- Structuralism: This theory states that perception is not given in advance, but is built from previous experiences related to the stimuli that are experienced. For this reason, the mind can build structures through experience and learning obtained over time. Find out more about in this article.
- Computationalism: To better understand the functioning of the human mind, this orientation of experimental psychology proposes an analogy of it with a computer. In global terms, computingism attempts to explain the processes that a computer carries out to acquire, process and organize the information it receives. Faced with this, it is understood that mental processes have a methodology similar to this.
- Empiricism: Personal experience is what determines the way a given stimulus is perceived. Human beings and animals are conditioned by their previous experiences, which influence the type of responses they give to different situations.
Examples from experimental psychology
Where is experimental psychology applied? This scientific discipline can be applied in various social areas. In fact, it provides greater credibility and validity to the results obtained in the psychological research carried out. In the items that follow we will show you some examples of experimental psychology:
- In education: In the educational field, the model of positive reinforcements against expected responses has been implemented. For example, students who obtain good grades in exams have the possibility of accessing benefits such as obtaining recognition. In other words, the behavior of studying for an exam is positively reinforced.
- in animals: They manifest behaviors conditioned by the stimuli and responses of their environment. An example of experimental psychology would be if a dog is taught to sit before receiving food and this behavior is rewarded through a pet, it will make a direct association between the action and positive reinforcement.
- In traumatic experiences: People who have experienced traumatic situations such as sexual abuse may have a tendency to avoid interacting with other people due to previous experiences. This happens because they associate the stimulus with a flight or avoidance response due to the suffering they have experienced in the past. In this way, the response is implicitly conditioned.
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Bibliography
- Danziger, K. (1980). Wundt’s psychological experiment in the light of his philosophy of science. Psychological Research Journal, 42 (1), 109-122.
- Martínez, AG, López-Espinoza, A., Aguilera, V., Galindo, A., De La Torre Ibarra, C. (2007). Observation and experimentation in psychology: a historical review. Diversitas: Perspectives in Psychology, 3 (2), 213-225.