Introduction
Wundt’s works on cognitive processes significantly changed the understanding of the human mind, separating psychology from philosophy. He developed a more structured approach to describe all psychical phenomena. In this discussion, the first significant distinction is between sensations and simple feelings.
Discussion
The former, also known as sensational elements, refer to objective contents of the empirical world, such as heat or cold (Wundt, 1902, p. 58). On the other hand, simple feelings concern subjective contents that require an experiencing subject (Wundt, 1902, p. 58). Consequently, Wundt explains that each of the elements has quality and intensity, which define how people perceive them and distinguish them from each other. These determinants vary in complexity and have numerous additional attributes. Lastly, while objective contents are present in every psychical experience, simple feelings might be omitted due to what Wundt calls an “indifference zone” (Wundt, 1902, p. 61). This notion explains why people can react differently to sensations and further proves the necessity of distinction between objective and subjective contents.
The second crucial concept is a psychical compound, which designates an immediate psychical experience comprised of both objective and subjective contents. They can be formed from primarily sensations, in which case Wundt calls them ideas, or they can include mainly simple feelings and are called affective processes (Wundt, 1902, p. 63). In turn, it means that all compounds can be dissolved into simpler blocks, which are sensations and feelings, respectively. However, it does not mean that compounds are mere combinations of their elements. Wundt clearly states that “attributes of psychical compounds are never limited to those of the elements that enter into them” (Wundt, 1902, p. 62).
Conclusion
Therefore, basic blocks form compounds and these more complex entities might acquire additional attributes in this process. That is how Wundt explains the complexity of the human mind and the numerous ways people might produce ideas, emotions, and other complicated cognitive processes.
Reference
Wundt, W. (1902). Grundriss der psychologie (C. H. Judd, Trans.). Engelmann. (Original work published 1896)