Psychology 3. History of Psychology | Study Guide

University:
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Course:
PSY-113 | General Psychology
Academic year:

2021
Views:

60

Pages:

2
Author:

Kristopher Elliott

HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY ARISTOTLEIn Para Psyche, Aristotle's psychology introduced the idea that the mind was the 'first entelechy,' the primary reason, for both the existence and functioning of the body. The human soul was thought to be the ultimate link with the divine. Aristotle believed that mind and reason existed independent of the body. MEDIEVAL THOUGHTDuring the Middle Ages, psychology had a relatively poor reputation. Edwin Boring, in A History of Experimental Psychology (New York, 1929), held that late medieval thinking was based on theology and tended to be opposed to science and logical reasoning. RENE DESCARTESRene Descartes (1596-1650) was a French philosopher and mathematician. Descartes is most known for his concept of dualism in psychology. Descartes' theory of dualism suggests that there are two realms of existence. The first is the physical realm - which is the environment and the things that surround us. MIND BODY PROBLEMThe mind and body problem regards the extent the mind and the body are separate, and questions whether they are the same thing. The mind is about mental processes, thought, and consciousness. The body is about the physical aspects of brain-neurons as well as how the brain is structured. POSTMODERNISMPostmodern psychology questions whether an ultimate or singular version of truth is possible. BEHAVIOR ANALYSISBehavior analysis is rooted in the behaviorist tradition and utilizes learning principles to explain behavior change. While some branches of psychology attempt to understand underlying cognitions, behavioral psychology is not concerned with mentalistic causes of behavior. Instead, behavioral psychology focuses on analyzing behavior itself. COGNITIVE SCIENCECognitive psychology is the study of mental processes such as "attention, language use, memory, perception, problem solving, creativity, and thinking". CHARLES DARWINCharles Darwin, best known for his theory of survival of the fittest, was a major contributor to the field of psychology. Darwin's theories focused on humans and animals, and how we share similar biological factors and ancestral roots. Darwin was also one of the pioneers for child developmental research and child psychology.