The Evolution The Evolution ParadigmParadigm

Its Influence on PsychologyIts Influence on Psychology

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Friedrich HegelHegel (1770 - 1831) (1770 - 1831)

dialecticaldialectical understanding of knowledge understanding of knowledge leading to a leading to a developmentaldevelopmental view of view of

economics,economics, social conditions, social conditions, politics, politics, culture, culture, human psychology. human psychology.

Knowledge as ProgressionKnowledge as Progression

Dialectics (dialogue) Dialectics (dialogue) Any limited truth (thesis) calls forth its Any limited truth (thesis) calls forth its

opposite (antithesis).opposite (antithesis). From the dialogue between opposites From the dialogue between opposites

(dialectics) comes a fuller truth (synthesis).(dialectics) comes a fuller truth (synthesis). A fundamentally optimistic theory: things A fundamentally optimistic theory: things

get better and better.get better and better.

Reality as KnowledgeReality as Knowledge

Social, political, economic systems, Social, political, economic systems, individual psychological development etc. individual psychological development etc. all are ways through which people become all are ways through which people become progressively more aware of reality. progressively more aware of reality.

Hegel would say: the Idea becomes Hegel would say: the Idea becomes conscious of itself in the world.conscious of itself in the world.

Reality as Knowledge (2)Reality as Knowledge (2)

A Christian might say: we become more A Christian might say: we become more aware of the Word through which and in aware of the Word through which and in which everything was created (John 1)which everything was created (John 1) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the

Word was with God, and the Word was God.Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without 3 Through him all things were made; without

him nothing was made that has been made.him nothing was made that has been made..

Reality as Knowledge (3)Reality as Knowledge (3)

The progression of events in our lives and The progression of events in our lives and in the events around us reflect the in the events around us reflect the progress of our understanding.progress of our understanding.

History, economics, psychology etc… all History, economics, psychology etc… all follow the dialectical thesis-antithesis-follow the dialectical thesis-antithesis-synthesis.synthesis.

This progressive development can also be This progressive development can also be found in areas such as biology (leading to found in areas such as biology (leading to the development of species)the development of species)

What are some examples that would What are some examples that would illustrate the dialectic process?illustrate the dialectic process?

Hegel and EconomicsHegel and Economics

Left alone, economic systems will follow Left alone, economic systems will follow the thesis/antithesis/synthesis progression the thesis/antithesis/synthesis progression and become better overtime: and become better overtime: capitalismcapitalism..

Social change follows this same Social change follows this same mechanism, class struggle leads to a mechanism, class struggle leads to a better society: better society: marxismmarxism

The The EvolutionEvolution paradigm paradigm

1.1. Continuity between speciesContinuity between species

2.2. Survival of the fittest (hence, interest in Survival of the fittest (hence, interest in function: what helps you adapt)function: what helps you adapt)

3.3. Recapitulation theoryRecapitulation theory

4.4. Use of the normal curve, statistics etc… Use of the normal curve, statistics etc… Interest in individual differences.Interest in individual differences.

5.5. Greater use of interdisciplinary dataGreater use of interdisciplinary data

Evolution paradigm and Evolution paradigm and Psychology (1)Psychology (1)

The notion of The notion of continuity between the continuity between the speciesspecies::

Comparative psychology (ex: Comparative psychology (ex: George JohnGeorge John Romanes Romanes 1848-18941848-1894: notion of the : notion of the "mental ladder")"mental ladder")

Use of animals in experimentationUse of animals in experimentation Growth of anthropometry, statistics, and Growth of anthropometry, statistics, and

the study of individual differences. the study of individual differences.

Evolution paradigm and Evolution paradigm and Psychology (2)Psychology (2)

Theory of recapitulation (ontogeny repeats Theory of recapitulation (ontogeny repeats phylogeny) phylogeny) : in the course of development, : in the course of development, the individual went through the various the individual went through the various stages the species followed --an important stages the species followed --an important but false theory..but false theory..

The child of today, in his/her development, The child of today, in his/her development, exemplifies modes of thinking existing in exemplifies modes of thinking existing in the simpler cultures that preceded.the simpler cultures that preceded.

Evolution paradigm and Evolution paradigm and Psychology(3)Psychology(3)

The distribution of human traits follows the The distribution of human traits follows the normal curvenormal curve.. This led to the development of statistics and This led to the development of statistics and

the whole tests and measurements area. the whole tests and measurements area. An emphasis on An emphasis on functionfunction rather than rather than

structure.structure. How do people adapt?How do people adapt? Behaviorism, functionalism…Behaviorism, functionalism…

That’s all for now…That’s all for now…