Chapter Objectives

After studying this chapter, you should:

• Appreciate the importance of Wilhelm Wundt in the history of psychology
• Understand why 1879 is considered the founding year of psychology
• Understand Wundt's conception of what psychology should and should not include
• Know about the history of reaction time as an important measure in psychology
• Know the multiple research areas investigated by Wundt and his students
• Be able to identify common misconceptions about Wundt and the reasons for them