"Physiological psychology is, therefore, first of all psychology"

Wilhelm Wundt emphasizes the foundational nature of psychological inquiry, even as it aligns itself with physiological processes. By stating that physiological psychology is, first of all, psychology, Wundt asserts the primacy of psychological methods and objectives in the study of the mind and behavior. The focus remains the investigation of mental phenomena, such as sensation, perception, thought, and emotion, even when these are explored through the lens of neural mechanisms and bodily functions.

Wundt’s perspective acknowledges that while physiological psychology draws upon advances in biology and the understanding of the nervous system, its ultimate purpose is to elucidate psychological phenomena. The discipline does not merely recount the activities of neurons and synapses; rather, it interprets how such physical events correlate with conscious experience and mental life. Wundt positions psychology as a science that benefits from physiological insights, but never relinquishes its core concern: the analysis and understanding of the mind itself.

Physiological psychology, as Wundt conceives it, is thus not reducible to physiology. Instead, it employs physiological tools and methods as means to investigate and explain mental functions. Reflexes, sensory input, and brain activity become meaningful within the framework of psychology because they are studied with the intent of understanding perception, will, and consciousness. Wundt suggests that even when exploring the physical substrate of the mind, the guiding questions, methodologies, and interpretations must remain those of psychology.

Through his statement, Wundt carves out a distinctive territory for psychological science amid the prevailing influence of physiology in the late nineteenth century. He advocates for a synthetic approach where physiological facts are subsumed into wider psychological theories, maintaining the independence and priority of psychology. Ultimately, he preserves the unique contributions of psychology in interpreting human experience, emphasizing that the subject matter, principles, and aims of the field must always be psychological, despite its physiological associations.