The Origins of Psychology

Question 1

What is the mind believed to be

Answer 1

About mental processes, thoughts and consciousness

Question 2

What is the brain believed to be?

Answer 2

About physical aspects of the brain, for example neurons and how the brain is structured

Question 3

What is dualism?

Answer 3

The belief that humans have both the mind and the brain

Question 4

What is Descartes’ theory?

Answer 4

• Argued that the mind interacts with the body at the pineal gland
• Proposes that the mind controls the body, but the body can also influence the otherwise rational mind

Question 5

What is monism and what are the two types?

Answer 5

Belief that the mind and body are the same thing

• Materialism: belief that nothing exists apart from the material world. The mind is the function of the brain – humans are nothing more than complicated physiological organisms
• Phenomenalism: belief that physical objects and events are reducible to mental objects so only mental objects like mind exist