Which psychologist is often referred to as the 'father of psychology'?

• A. John Dewey
• B. Sigmund Freud
• C. Wilhelm Wundt
• D. William James

Answer: (C)

Wilhelm Wundt is often referred to as the 'father of psychology' because he is credited with establishing psychology as an experimental and scientific discipline distinct from philosophy and physiology. In 1879, he founded the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig in Germany, which marked the formal beginning of psychology as a field of study. Wundt employed experimental methods to study the human mind, focusing on concepts such as perception and reaction times, and emphasized the importance of introspection as a method for exploring consciousness. His work laid the foundation for later psychological research and influenced many subsequent thinkers, solidifying his status as a pivotal figure in the development of psychology as we know it today.