What are elements of consciousness? What is their role in mental life?
Wundt viewed the mind as a puzzle made up of small pieces or elements. He viewed these elements, to actively synthesize the structure of the mind. There are three mental elements of the conscious mind.
They are affection and sensations. Out of them sensation could be further broken down into its respective properties. These properties are quality, intensity, clearness, and duration. The affection element lacks any of this.
According to Wundt, humans draw conclusions from their experiences. The mind actively organizes these experiences (mental elements). Wundt wanted to organize the whole mind in to its elements. He wanted to understand these elements, like the natural scientists were trying to study the atoms which make up the matter.
The element in the periodic table makes up practically each and everything around us. They are the simple elements that make up higher complex compounds. Similarly, Wundt also wanted to make a periodic table of these elements, which makes up the mind. These elements come together to design complex cognitive processes.
3 independent dimensions of feelings were concluded by Wundt. They are displeasure or pleasure, relaxation or tension, and depression or excitement. He defined emotions to fall within any of these grids.