Lecture: Animism, Ancestral Beliefs, Ancient Civilizations, and Early Psychology Concepts (Vocabulary)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering core ideas from animism and ancestral beliefs through ancient civilizations and early psychological concepts, as discussed in the lecture notes.

Animism

Belief that a spirit or life force animates both living and nonliving things; the animating force may inhabit objects and can diffuse into them; death of the object ends the spirit in some views.

Archaic Animism

An earlier form of animism where the animating force resides in objects but can diffuse into them and move between things, carrying intention and energy.

Spiritualism

Belief in spiritual aspects of reality everywhere; spirits of ancestors and universal spirits reside in nature and the land is sacred.

Kami (Shinto concept)

Spirits or deities believed to inhabit natural phenomena, places, and objects in Japan; influence life and are honored through purification and rituals.

Ancestral spirits

Belief that deceased ancestors remain present and influence the living, fostering community solidarity and belonging; intuition often viewed as a guiding faculty.

Shamanism

Ritual practices involving communication with spirits (often through trance or meditative states) for protection, healing, or guidance.

Historicism

Approach that understands past beliefs within their historical context rather than judging them by modern standards.

Cuneiform

Ancient Mesopotamian writing system developed by the Sumerians on clay tablets; used for laws, prayers, contracts, and administration.

Sumerians

Ancient Mesopotamian civilization known for early writing (cuneiform), medicine, priestly knowledge, and urban development.

Jericho

One of the earliest known settlements, illustrating the shift from hunting-gathering to settled life and community organization.

Linear B

Mycenaean writing system used to record an early form of Greek; derived from Minoan scripts and used in administrative records.

Epic of Gilgamesh

Ancient Mesopotamian epic about Gilgamesh’s life, friendship, mortality, and the search for meaning; has psychological significance in antiquity.

Hammurabi’s Code

Ancient Mesopotamian legal code featuring established laws and the principle of justice (e.g., “eye for an eye”).

Pandora

Greek myth of Pandora opening a jar (box) releasing evils into the world, while hope remains inside.

Prometheus

Titan who stole fire for humanity; punished by the gods; symbolizes human ingenuity and the costs of advancement.

Oedipus complex

Freudian concept describing a child’s unconscious sexual desire for the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent (often discussed in cross-cultural contexts).

Elektra complex

Freudian concept describing a daughter’s psychosexual conflict with her mother and affections toward her father.

Tripartite soul

Ancient Greek idea that the soul has three parts (often rational, spirited, and appetitive) influencing behavior and morality.

Logos

Philosophical/biblical notion of the rational principle governing the universe or the divine reason expressed in speech or the ‘word.’

Tao

The Way; central concept in Taoism emphasizing harmony with the natural order, moderation, and non-attachment.

Confucianism

Philosophical system stressing proper conduct, social harmony, reverence, humility, and ethical relationships.

Hinduism – Brahman

The ultimate, impersonal principle of existence that underlies all reality and gods; the source of all being.

Hinduism – Atman

The individual soul or inner self, considered to be a part of Brahman in many strands of Hindu thought.

Hinduism – Moksha

Liberation from the cycle of rebirth (samsara), achieving a state of spiritual freedom and unity with the ultimate reality.

Buddhism – Anatta

Doctrine of no-self; the belief that there is no permanent, unchanging self.

Buddhism – Nirvana

Liberation from suffering and the cycle of birth and rebirth; realization of non-attachment and ultimate peace.

Egyptian psychology

Ancient belief about mental life where the heart was seen as the seat of memory and will, while the brain’s role was not central; healing involved herbs and incantations.

Idola (idols of perception)

Images or impressions that emanate from objects and travel to the senses to reconstruct perception; an older concept related to how we experience the world.