Historical Perspectives - Chapter 1 Review

What is psychology?

Psychology = scientific study of behavior and mental processes

- By studying the history you can examine the entire field

- Old ideas help us make research ideas and think critically

What is the relationship between the Greek philosophers?

· Socrates -> Plato -> Aristotle; all knew the teachings of Socrates

Greece Info

400 BC; dry climate, work included certain trades like farming, fishing, etc.

Socrates Contributions

developed Socratic method which was a was to ask questions to learn more about a topic

Plato's Contributions

developed the Academy which was the first university; Nativism theory, Rationalism Theory, 3-Part Personality, Tripartite Theory

Aristotle's Contributions

developed Empiricism, studied catharsis, developed views on happiness and virtue; wrote 1st book in psychology (Para Psyche), developed the inductive method

Empiricism

learning that comes from experience and sensory observation; today its used to collect facts through sensory observation and experimentation

Para Psyche

"about the mind" The first text in history of psychology; · written by Aristotle, explained that each living thing had a psyche but its complexity depended on the scale of the living thing

Catharsis

release of emotions; Aristotle observed that drama in performance helped the audience purge their deep emotions; today it's used to purge aggressive behavior

Happiness and Virtue

idea developed by Aristotle that happiness and virtue are intertwined and that by making ethical decisions, you will have a happy life

Which philosophers developed the socratic, inductive, and deductive method?

Socratic Method (SOCRATES), Inductive Method (ARISTOTLE), Deductive Approach (PLATO)

Allegory of the Cave

Plato's description of individuals who live their lives in accordance with the shadows of reality provided by sensory experience instead of in accordance with the true reality beyond sensory experience; seeing is not always true! impacts the perception of the internal representation of the mind

Tripartite Theory (3 Parts)

1. Reason = located in HEAD; thinking part that is responsible for controlling other parts if the soul

2. Passion = located in the CHEST; hot-blooded, functions as source of emotions?

3. Appetite = located in the STOMACH; function is to feed the body

Plato Personality (3 Parts)

1. Intellect = person understands the world through intellect

2. Will = drive or wish that triggers the person to do something

3. Appetite = desire to satisfy the body (hunger, love, sex, etc)

Nativism

belief that humans are born with an innate understanding (ex: believing children to have innate abilities)

Rationalism

ideas and knowledge come from thinking (used in experimental psychology)

Islam's Contributions to Psych

credited with care-taking the findings of the Greek philosophers and making Indo-Arabic Numerals

Al Kindi

the first Muslim thinker to try to harmonize Greek philosophy and the religious precepts of the Qur'an; made 1-9 numbering system

Alhazen

Considered the greatest scientist of the Middle Ages, wrote the "book of optics"; camera obscura

Avicenna

Arabian philosopher and physician; father of modern medicine who wrote the Canon of Medicine; medicine man who talked about the soul, said there were exterior and interior senses