Final answer:
Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology laboratory in Germany at the University at Leipzig in 1879, marking the beginning of psychology as a scientific discipline. He used introspection and considered psychology to be the study of conscious experience, contributing significantly to the development of structuralism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychology lab in Germany and followed strict methods to study consciousness. He is often considered the father of modern psychology.
Wilhelm Wundt, a prominent figure in the history of psychology, established the first psychology laboratory at the University at Leipzig in 1879. His approach to psychology was revolutionary as he considered it a scientific study of conscious experience, aiming to identify components of consciousness and their interrelations. Wundt's Principles of Physiological Psychology, published in 1873, laid the groundwork for his methods, including introspection, which involved the examination of one's own conscious experience as objectively as possible. His practices led to the development of structuralism by his student, Edward Titchener, further expanding the field.
Wundt also believed in voluntarism and that subjects should be aware of their involvement in experiments. The laboratory environment facilitated experiments such as reaction time tests, setting a precedent for future psychological research.