Which psychologist is known for founding the field of experimental psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt is considered the founder of experimental psychology because he established the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879. This event is often marked as the formal beginning of psychology as an experimental and scientific discipline separate from philosophy and physiology. Wundt's approach emphasized the use of controlled experiments to study the human mind and behavior, focusing on aspects like perception, consciousness, and sensation. He believed in breaking down mental processes into their most basic components, a method known as structuralism.

Wundt sought to apply scientific methods to psychological phenomena, setting the stage for subsequent research and leading to the development of various branches within psychology, such as behaviorism and cognitive psychology. His emphasis on experimental methods significantly influenced future psychologists and paved the way for psychology to be considered a legitimate scientific field.