PS210-09: History of PS210-09: History of PsychologyPsychology

Instructor: Sara BarnettInstructor: Sara BarnettSeminar 2: The Seminar 2: The Philosophical and Philosophical and Physiological Origins of Physiological Origins of PsychologyPsychology

AgendaAgenda

I. AnnouncementsI. Announcements

II. Review of Chapter 1II. Review of Chapter 1- The Study of the History of Psychology- The Study of the History of Psychology

III. Discussion of Chapter 2III. Discussion of Chapter 2- Philosophical Influences on Psychology- Philosophical Influences on Psychology

IV. Discussion Board ExemplarIV. Discussion Board Exemplar

V. Questions, Comments, ReflectionsV. Questions, Comments, Reflections

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

1. 1. Discussion Board PostsDiscussion Board Posts- Nice work so far- Nice work so far- Symbols in response postings- Symbols in response postings

2. 2. Unit Intros and OverviewsUnit Intros and Overviews- Posted under course announcements- Posted under course announcements- Provides brief recap of previous unit, introduction - Provides brief recap of previous unit, introduction

to new unit, and requirements for new unitto new unit, and requirements for new unit

3. 3. Handout: “Psychology Overview: The Fields, Paths and Handout: “Psychology Overview: The Fields, Paths and Professions”Professions”

- Posted in Document Sharing- Posted in Document Sharing- A combination of web resources and instructor - A combination of web resources and instructor

knowledgeknowledge

Review of Chapter 1Review of Chapter 1

►Why is it important to learn about the Why is it important to learn about the history of psychology?history of psychology?

►What are some of the tools and/or What are some of the tools and/or resources used to uncover the history resources used to uncover the history of psychology?of psychology?

Review of Chapter 1Review of Chapter 1

►Where should we start with our study Where should we start with our study of the history of psychology?of the history of psychology?

►What two fields are thought to make What two fields are thought to make up the study of psychology?up the study of psychology?

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Philosophical Origins of The Philosophical Origins of

PsychologyPsychology

►Why begin this chapter with a story Why begin this chapter with a story about a mechanical duck in 18about a mechanical duck in 18thth century France?century France?

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Philosophical Origins of The Philosophical Origins of

PsychologyPsychologyRene Descartes (1596 – 1650)Rene Descartes (1596 – 1650)I.I. Personal BackgroundPersonal Background

- French philosopher and mathematician French philosopher and mathematician - Born to a wealthy familyBorn to a wealthy family- Interested in applying “scientific knowledge to practical Interested in applying “scientific knowledge to practical

concerns”concerns”- Notebooks and manuscripts nearly destroyed in ship Notebooks and manuscripts nearly destroyed in ship

sinkingsinking

II.II. Notable Work Notable Work - Mind-body ProblemMind-body Problem- Reflex Action TheoryReflex Action Theory- Derived IdeasDerived Ideas- Innate IdeasInnate Ideas

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Philosophical Origins of The Philosophical Origins of

PsychologyPsychologyAugust Comte (1798 – 1857)August Comte (1798 – 1857)I.I. Personal BackgroundPersonal Background

- French philosopher French philosopher - Struggled with mental health issuesStruggled with mental health issues- Believe in equality for men and women until he met with Believe in equality for men and women until he met with

his own strong-willed wifehis own strong-willed wife- Said his death we be “an irreparable loss to the world” Said his death we be “an irreparable loss to the world”

(Schultz and Schultz, 2008, p. 37)(Schultz and Schultz, 2008, p. 37)

II.II. Notable Work Notable Work - PositivismPositivism- MaterialismMaterialism- EmpiricismEmpiricism

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Philosophical Origins of The Philosophical Origins of

PsychologyPsychologyJohn Locke (1632 – 1704)John Locke (1632 – 1704)I.I. Personal BackgroundPersonal Background

- English philosopher and medical doctorEnglish philosopher and medical doctor- Highly educatedHighly educated- Wrote “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”Wrote “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”

II.II. Notable Work Notable Work - EmpiricismEmpiricism

- perceptions- perceptions- sensations- sensations- reflections- reflections- simple ideas- simple ideas- complex ideas- complex ideas- primary qualities- primary qualities- secondary qualities- secondary qualities

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Philosophical Origins of The Philosophical Origins of

PsychologyPsychologyGeorge Berkeley (1632 – 1704)George Berkeley (1632 – 1704)

I.I. Personal BackgroundPersonal Background- Irish philosopher and clergymanIrish philosopher and clergyman- Taught at YaleTaught at Yale- ReRe quested to decompose on bed where quested to decompose on bed where

he diedhe died- Namesake of the town and college in CaliforniaNamesake of the town and college in California

II.II. Notable Work Notable Work - MentalismMentalism- The Association of the SensesThe Association of the Senses

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Philosophical Origins of The Philosophical Origins of

PsychologyPsychology

Other Key Philosophers:Other Key Philosophers:

- David Hume (1711-1776)David Hume (1711-1776)

- David Hartley (1705-1757)David Hartley (1705-1757)

- James Mill (1773-1836)James Mill (1773-1836)

- John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

Discussion Post ExemplarDiscussion Post ExemplarSuggestions: Suggestions:

Answer the questions asked. Use proper paragraph structure. Check spelling and Answer the questions asked. Use proper paragraph structure. Check spelling and grammar. Provide citations when necessary.grammar. Provide citations when necessary.

► Question: Question: How did Descartes explain the functioning and interaction of the human body and the How did Descartes explain the functioning and interaction of the human body and the

human mind? What is the role of the conarium? Based on your prior psychological knowledge, human mind? What is the role of the conarium? Based on your prior psychological knowledge, how do you think this relates to modern psychological thought?how do you think this relates to modern psychological thought?

► Answer:Answer:Descartes explained the functioning and interaction of the human body and the human Descartes explained the functioning and interaction of the human body and the human

mind as two distinct entities that continually influence one another. He identified the conarium as mind as two distinct entities that continually influence one another. He identified the conarium as the area within the brain where said influencing occurs. And, after centuries of people believing the area within the brain where said influencing occurs. And, after centuries of people believing that the mind controlled the body via a one-way interaction, -- “like a puppeteer, pulling the that the mind controlled the body via a one-way interaction, -- “like a puppeteer, pulling the strings of the body” -- Descartes’ theory on the existence of a two-way interaction between mind strings of the body” -- Descartes’ theory on the existence of a two-way interaction between mind and body emerged as the commonly accepted notion (Schultz and Schultz, 2008, p. 32).and body emerged as the commonly accepted notion (Schultz and Schultz, 2008, p. 32).

Interestingly enough, Descartes’ theory has largely influenced modern psychological Interestingly enough, Descartes’ theory has largely influenced modern psychological thought, and is particularly apparent in the practice of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT thought, and is particularly apparent in the practice of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT seeks to eradicate dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors through a systemic retraining of the mind seeks to eradicate dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors through a systemic retraining of the mind and body. While undergoing CBT, a child who argues and fights with classmates learns to adopt and body. While undergoing CBT, a child who argues and fights with classmates learns to adopt pro-social mental and physical responses to verbal and violent triggers. Case in point, if the CBT-pro-social mental and physical responses to verbal and violent triggers. Case in point, if the CBT-trained child is pushed by a fellow student, his or her mind tells the body not to strike back, which trained child is pushed by a fellow student, his or her mind tells the body not to strike back, which makes for a specific physical response that helps to quite the mind and lesson feelings of makes for a specific physical response that helps to quite the mind and lesson feelings of frustration. As this example shows, CBT is deeply rooted in Descartes’ revolutionary theory on the frustration. As this example shows, CBT is deeply rooted in Descartes’ revolutionary theory on the mind and body as mutually influential entities.mind and body as mutually influential entities.

Questions, Comments, Questions, Comments, ReflectionsReflections

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????