PS210 History of PsychologyUnit 2The Philosophical and Physiological Origins of Psychology
Agenda
PhilosophyPhysiologyWays to acquire knowledgeDescartesContributions to psychology
Philosophy and Physiology
How were Philosophy and Physiology the same?And different?
Philosophy and Physiology
PhilosophyAsked similar questions to Psychology BUT did not experimentally test themPhysiologyRelied on controlled experimental observation and experimentation which became the methodology for Psychology
Empiricism
The pursuit of knowledge through observation and experimentation Knowledge through experiences and sensationsHow the mind acquires knowledge (through sensory experiences)
Empiricism
The pursuit of knowledge through observation and experimentation
Positivism
Only objectively observable facts are recognizedRejects information that is “debatable”
Empiricism
The pursuit of knowledge through observation and experimentation
Positivism
Only objectively observable facts are recognized
What is Materialism??
Empiricism
The pursuit of knowledge through observation and experimentation
Positivism
Only objectively observable facts are recognized
Materialism
Facts of the universe should be described in physical terms
Descartes
Reflex action theoryWhen an external stimulus brings about an involuntary responseDoctrine of ideasDerived ideas – produced by the direct application of an external stimulusInnate ideas – develop from the mind, independent of experienceMind-Body problem
What is the mind/body issue?
Are the mind and body separate or do they work together?If they do work together, how do they influence each otherDescartes believed that the interaction between the mind and body was a 2 way one – dualismHe thought that the interaction between the mind and body occurred in the conarium
What is the mind?
Mental phenomenonE.g. emotions, memoryNon-physicalDescartes also referred to it as the soul
What is the mind?
Mental phenomenonE.g. emotions, memory
What is the body?
What is the mind?
Mental phenomenonE.g. emotions, memory
What is the body?
Physical qualitiesE.g. movement, breathing
How has the work of these philosophers contributed to psychology?
Contributions…
Shift in attention away from theological concept of the soul to the scientific study of the mindThe concepts form the subject matter for much of psychology. For example:Sensation and perceptionLearning
How has the work of these physiologists contributed to Psychology?
Contributions….
Showed a dissociation between a stimulus and a sensation someone experiencesShowed that the relationship between a stimulus and a sensation could be measuredLed to the development of psychophysicsRelationship between the mental (psycho) and material (physical) worldScientific study of the relationship b/w mental and physical processes
How did the Zeitgeist influence the work of the philosophers and physiologists?
Zeitgeist influences include….
Mechanistic spirit of the timesFascination with machines and clocks influenced how people looked at human beingsNew machines and equipment developed to study human behavior
Questions????
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