History of Psychology – Lesson 1 Flashcards

PSYC 305 - History of Psychology – Lesson 1 Flashcards by CHATGPT Lesson 1: Philosophy from Ancient Greece and Rome • Main contributions of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle • Dualism vs. Monism • Influence on later psychological thought

What was Socrates’ main contribution to psychology and philosophy?

Socrates emphasized the importance of self-examination and introspection (“Know thyself”). He believed that knowledge lies within and can be accessed through questioning and dialogue. His Socratic Method involves critical thinking through questioning, laying the groundwork for cognitive psychology and therapeutic dialogue.

How did Plato’s views differ from Socrates, and what were his main contributions?

Plato, a student of Socrates, introduced dualism, claiming that the soul (mind) and body are distinct. He believed that knowledge is innate and recollected through reason, and true knowledge comes from rational insight, not sensory experience. This influenced rationalist psychology and theories of cognition.

What were Aristotle’s main contributions to early psychology?

Aristotle, Plato’s student, emphasized empiricism, stating that knowledge comes from sensory experience. He wrote De Anima (On the Soul), one of the earliest works examining the psyche as the source of human behavior. He classified the soul into three parts: vegetative, sensitive, and rational. His ideas laid the foundation for biopsychology and behavioral psychology.

What is Dualism in philosophy and psychology?

Dualism is the belief that the mind and body are separate entities. This concept was promoted by Plato and later by Descartes. In psychology, it supports the idea that mental phenomena are non-physical and cannot be fully explained by physical processes alone.

What is Monism in philosophy and psychology?

Monism is the belief that mind and body are one and not separate. There are two types: material monism (only the physical exists) and idealism (only the mind/spirit exists). Aristotle is often associated with a monistic view, seeing the soul as the form of the body and inseparable from it.

What is Rationalism and how does it relate to early psychology?

Rationalism is the view that reason is the primary source of knowledge. Associated with Plato, it influenced theories that focus on internal mental processes (like cognitive psychology), emphasizing logic, introspection, and innate knowledge.

What is Empiricism and which philosopher promoted it?

Empiricism is the belief that knowledge comes from sensory experience. Aristotle was an early proponent. Empiricism is foundational in scientific psychology, leading to observation-based methods and behavioral approaches.

What is the Socratic Method and how is it relevant to psychology?

The Socratic Method is a form of cooperative dialogue based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking. It is relevant in psychology for developing therapeutic questioning techniques, especially in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

What are the three parts of the soul according to Aristotle?

1. Vegetative – responsible for basic life functions (plants and all living things)

2. Sensitive – responsible for sensation and movement (animals and humans)

3. Rational – responsible for reasoning (unique to humans)

How did Plato’s and Aristotle’s views on knowledge differ?

Plato believed that knowledge is innate and accessed through reasoning (rationalism), while Aristotle believed that knowledge comes from experience and observation (empiricism).

How do Dualism and Monism differ?

Dualism posits that mind and body are separate, whereas Monism states that mind and body are one and the same, either as purely physical (materialism) or purely mental (idealism).

How did Socrates' method differ from Plato and Aristotle’s approaches?

Socrates used open-ended questioning to explore ideas (Socratic Method), focusing on ethical self-knowledge. Plato used abstract reasoning and metaphysics. Aristotle relied on empirical observation and categorized knowledge.

How did Socrates influence modern psychology?

Socrates’ focus on self-awareness and introspection laid the groundwork for psychological techniques in self-reflection, therapeutic dialogue, and cognitive questioning, influencing CBT and existential psychology.

How did Plato influence later psychology?

Plato’s dualism influenced the mind-body problem debate and rationalist traditions in psychology. His theory that reality lies beyond the physical world prefigures cognitive and humanistic psychology.

How did Aristotle’s work impact the development of psychology?

Aristotle’s empirical approach, biological focus, and his work De Anima influenced behaviorism, biopsychology, developmental psychology, and the use of scientific methods in studying behavior.

How did Greek philosophers influence Islamic and Christian thought?

Their writings were preserved and expanded upon by Islamic scholars like Avicenna and Averroes, and integrated into Christian theology by thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas, who merged Aristotelian logic with Christian doctrine.

How did the Islamic Golden Age preserve and influence psychological thought?

Islamic scholars translated and preserved Greek philosophical texts, studied the soul and cognition, and developed hospitals with treatments for mental illness, influencing later European psychology.

What role did the Roman era play in the transmission of psychological thought?

Romans focused more on law and governance than abstract thought but preserved and disseminated Greek philosophy, especially through Stoicism and Neoplatonism, influencing Christian and Renaissance psychology.