...Cognitive Psychology PSY/360 April 7, 2011 Cognitive Psychology Psychology possesses several branches. One of these branches is cognitive psychology. Like biological psychology, this branch also seeks knowledge that potentially unlocks wonders of the mind. However, cognitive psychology focuses on the mental processes from an internal source not physically apparent. Whereas technology provides efficient methods for which to scan a brain and the activity therein, studying the mind is still yet to uncover mysteries behind thought. Studying the mind involves observation of behavior and of the environment but determining reason for thought in general is still out of reach. Inabilities to determine unobtainable conclusions do not slow the pursuit of knowledge, for the study of conscious thought continues. This paper includes an understanding of what cognitive psychology, as well as information regarding four essential milestones contributing to the development of cognitive psychology. In addition, this paper also focuses on the importance of behavioral observation. Comprehending Cognitive Psychology Cognitive psychology currently focuses on three main human characteristics. The first characteristic is the ability to perceive. Perception is important because this is the process in which an individual interprets the immediate environment as well as changes, situations, and interactions within it. The second characteristic...
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...Cognitive Psychology CandiseDiaz Cognitive Psychology Psychology possesses several branches. One of these branches is cognitive psychology. Like biological psychology, this branch also seeks knowledge that potentially unlocks wonders of the mind. However, cognitive psychology focuses on the mental processes from an internal source not physically apparent. Whereas technology provides efficient methods for which to scan a brain and the activity therein, studying the mind is still yet to uncover mysteries behind thought. Studying the mind involves observation of behavior and of the environment but determining reason for thought in general is still out of reach. Inabilities to determine unobtainable conclusions do not slow the pursuit of knowledge, for the study of conscious thought continues. This paper includes an understanding of what cognitive psychology, as well as information regarding four essential milestones contributing to the development of cognitive psychology. In addition, this paper also focuses on the importance of behavioral observation. Comprehending Cognitive Psychology Cognitive psychology currently focuses on three main human characteristics. The first characteristic is the...
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...The foundations of psychology has been a mystery to many for quite some time. Psychology is the scientific study of mental and behavioral processes. Since ancient times, humans began trying to make sense of the mental process. The roots are traced far back in history to ancient philosophers. There was no hard evidence of how the mind works until early philosophers began scientific studys of the human mind and recorded their findings. In this paper you will read about early philosophers that related to the beginnings of psychology as a formal discipline. I will also identify some major philosophers in the western tradition who were primary contributors to the formation of psychology as a discipline. I will also be exploring the development of the science of psychology during the 19th century. Ancient philosophers is the where history bagan in the field of psychology. Although these philosophers all had an intrerst with how the human mind and body works, they all had different interests, studies and experiments. They may have shared similar standpoints but some had different views. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were three Greek ancient philosophers who had a major influence on psychological thought. “Know thyself” one of Socrates’ most famous quotes. This quote was used to emphasize how important it is to be aware of one’s self. Personal reflection and self- examination are key factors in psychology. Plato was one of Socrates’ most prized students. He believed...
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...History of Psychology PSY/310 April 11, 2011 Jane Northrup History of Psychology As stated by Herman Ebbinghaus; “Psychology has a long past” (Goodwin, 2008). Although there is not much history on the actual science of psychology philosophers have long been asking questions pertaining to human behavior. Questions about humans and human behavior date back to the times of ancient Greek philosophers. A few philosophers who made great contributions are; Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes. Many believe that Aristotle may have contributed more to prescience psychology than any other individual. Aristotle was the first to believe in the importance of empirical observations. Observation is something that is widely used today in research and by many individuals in the field of psychology. He was also a great contributor to defining intellect and obtaining knowledge. (Daniels, 1997). Socrates believed that the goal of life was knowledge. Much of his knowledge was gained through questioning other philosophies. His biggest focus was on the problems related to human existence therefore he is thought of by some as the first existential philosopher. (Daniels, 1997). He was also the first to speak of the word “psyche” which he defined as ones type of intelligence and personality. (Daniels, 1997). Socrates had great influence on Plato. Plato was a rationalist who’s ideas led Freud and Marx to call their beliefs “scientific”. He also influenced many researchers...
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...Modern Psychology reflects the discipline’s diverse history; the formation of psychology differs dramatically from modern-day conceptions of the field of study. To acquire a complete grasp of psychology, it is important to spend more time exploring the history and origins of this particular study in science. In this particular paper, the main concepts that is being explored is philosophers that historically relate to the beginnings of psychology as a formal discipline, major philosophers in the western tradition that were primary contributors to the formation of psychology as a discipline, and the development of the science of psychology during the 19th century. History of Psychology Psychology was not well known as a separate discipline until the late 1800’s, its initial history can be traced back to the era of the early Greeks. All throughout the 17th century, Rena Descartes, a French philosopher, introduced the first idea of dualism, which is the explanation that the mind and body are separate parts that work together to create the human experience. “Many other issues still debated by psychologists today, such as relative contributions of nature vs. nurture are rooted in these early philosophical traditions” (Citizendium, 2010). Psychology has been often mistakenly viewed as a young discipline, in all actuality Psychology has roots extending from ancient Greece. The father of psychology is known as Aristotle, he wrote his thesis “ De Anima, Parva Naturalia approximately...
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...an individual thinks of human behavior and how and why that certain behavior was ever first performed. When this curiosity happens most individuals don’t realize that they really just defined psychology by that one little thought. One definition of Psychology is the study of mental and behavioral process in a scientific way. This study of psychology can be traced back to when philosophy was just the main school of thought. Within that time frame the human behavior was interpreted but never truly acknowledged until scientific experiments came into play. Several important and significant figures are responsible for the first history of the study of psychology and how psychology was first developed in the nineteenth century. Three philosophers who were the first to question about the mind and mental processes was during the fifth centuries and they were known as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. These three philopshers were questioned by Hippocrates about the questions of how the nature of mind and mental processes really affects humans. Three Greek Philosophers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, were the first to question the nature of the mind and mental processes during the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. This process is known as Psychology. These three philosophers questioned Aristotle, during the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. Hippocrates was a Greek physician that was also called the father of medicine. Hippocrates was very interested in the study of the living organism...
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...History of Psychology Psychology is known as the scientific study of mental and behavioral processes. We can trace psychology back to a time when philosophy was the main school of thought. Humans have always been intrigued by the mind and how it works. What a lot of people do not realize is that psychology evolved from ideas of the early philosophers into a science all of its own. I will start by going over the early philosophers that constituted the beginning of psychology. I will also examine the Western philosophers who largely contributed to the formation of psychology as a formal discipline. Finally, I will explore how psychology developed into a “true” science in the 19th century. When we look back at where psychology began at, we must first look at Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle (470-320 B. C.). They were the first to start questioning the mind and its processes. Socrates influenced science as a whole by creating hypotheses and then eliminating those which were not possible. One of psychology’s main processes is asking questions to learn. Plato, who was a student of Socrates, outlined three aspects of the psyche which were: reason, feeling and appetite. He also wrote about the biformity of the psyche and the connection between mind and body (Hergenhahn, 2009). Plato’s ideas were a lot like those of Freud’s notions about the id, ego and superego. Aristotle, who studied under Plato, wrote De Anima, which is considered to be the first book on...
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...Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper PSY/360 December 10, 2013 In psychology there are several important factors and milestones in the development of cognitive psychology; each approach is important to the foundation of cognitive psychology. Cognitive psychology’s purpose is to study the mental process to give a better understanding of how individuals think, what they remember, and how they perceive and process information. If we were to consider psychology as a discipline; the question then becomes what key elements are important and why. The ancient researchers of ancient Greece approximately 2, 400 years ago, made notes of how individuals reacted to different situations; “We can see that the answers that Greek philosophers came up with were not accurate; but were their questions at least good ones?” (Willingham, 2007, p. 7) “ Many books will tell you that the Greeks’ lasting contribution lies in the questions they raised, which set the agenda for future philosophers and eventually for cognitive psychology” (Willingham, 2007, p. 7). During a period noted as the Dark Ages, “few contributions were added to the philosophy of mind between the time of Aristotle, who died in 322 B.C., and the birth of Descartes at the end of the 16th century” (Willingham, 2007, p. 8). During the Renaissance period, the platform of cognitive psychology began to take on a more personal form and its findings not only appealed to researchers but to individuals. “The Renaissance brought...
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...Examination of Clinical Psychology Jessica Brockman PSY/480 October 3, 2011 Stacie Flynn Examination of Clinical Psychology The word clinical comes from the Greek word klinike, which means “medical practice at the sickbed” (Maddux, 2008, p. 56), the word psychology comes from the word psyche, which means “soul or mind” (Maddux, 2008, p. 56). Clinical Psychology is “the assessment, treatment, and understanding of psychological and behavioral problems and disorders” (Plante, 2011, p. 5). Clinical psychology has a rich history compiled with information derived from philosophy, biology, and science. In this paper the history and the evolving nature of clinical psychology will be described as well as an explanation of the role research and statistics has on clinical psychology, and a comparison of clinical psychology to other mental health profession. The History of Clinical Psychology Greek history presented a background of early Greek thinkers, who acknowledged an interconnection between the mind and body as well as the influence the interconnection has on illnesses. One of the first contributors to psychology came from Hippocrates, who believed disease, temperament, and personality originated from an imbalance within four humors that he called black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood within an individual’s environment (Plante, 2011). Hippocrates also suggested that abnormal behavior, physical, and emotional illnesses were influenced by biological, psychological,...
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...I. Outline of Aristotle personal achievements and misdeeds A. Aristotle was born in Stagira Greece 384 B.C.E his father was a court physician this gave him a close association with Macedonian Court. After his father died Aristotle at age 17 was sent to an intellectual center where he studied for 20 years. He also began to study under Plato. When Plato died Aristotle diverged from his teachings which made him no longer eligible to take Plato’s place. He then got married and soon after travel to Mytilene under the invitation of Philip of Macedonia to tutor his 13 year old son Alexander who would become Alexander the great. This gave Aristotle a high honor in the court. When alexander took over the throne due to his father death and Aristotle...
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...Examination of Clinical Psychology Clinical psychology has an important history in psychology. The history begins with early Greek Philosophers, Sigmund Freud, and continues in modern psychology. Clinical psychology is deprived from philosophy, science, and many other realms. The scientific aspect of clinical psychology continues to alter and evolve leaving clinical psychology evolving as well. There are clear distinctions between clinical psychology and other disciplines, but they all have the same goal of helping individuals. History of Clinical Psychology There are many aspects and events that lead to the progression of clinical psychology. In earlier times the Greeks realized that the mind and body both influence relationships on individuals dealing with illnesses. Plato, Hippocrates, and Aristotle grew upon this theory. They believed that an individuals body was incontrol by his or her soul, and that illness were caused from problems within the soul (Plante, 2011). The middle ages focused that physical and mental issues meant that the individuals had issues of the soul. The Renaissance period brought upon the scientific approach, that scientific experimentation and observation were evident rather than what was thought to be from spiritual thoughts (Plante, 2011). Sigmund Freud had an increase understanding of the mind and body connection. Freud believed that the unconscious mind had an influence on the individual’s wellbeing (Parsons, 1958). Freud’s theories and his...
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...Pre-Socratic Period Thales of Miletus Background: Thales of Miletus (fl. c. 585 BC) is regarded as the father of philosophy. Thales of Miletus was considered one of the Seven Wise Men of ancient Greece. Thales was the first of the Greek natural philosophers and founder of the Ionian school of ancient Greek thinkers. Works/Writings/Philosophy: His is said to have measured the Egyptian pyramids and to have calculated the distance from shore of ships at sea using his knowledge of geometry. He also predicted an eclipse of the sun. In geometry Thales has been credited with the discovery of five theorems like the one that a triangle inscribed in a semicircle has a right angle. He tried to discover the substance from which everything in nature is made off and suggested water. Thales is important in bridging the worlds of myth and reason. He initiated the revolutionary notion that to understand the world one needed to know its nature and that there was an explanation for all phenomena in natural terms. That was a giant step from the assumptions of the old world that supernatural forces determined almost everything. While considering the effects of magnetism and static electricity, he concluded that the power to move other things without the mover itself changing was a characteristic of "life", so that a magnet and amber must therefore be alive in some way (in that they have animation or the power to act). If so, he argued, there is no difference between the living and the dead...
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...Cognitive Psychology The field of psychology is made up of different branches and each branch gives a range of different ideas and theories toward the compound field of psychology. Cognitive psychology is one branch that focuses on how cognition directly affects human behavior. Primarily cognitive psychology tries to uncover the underlying mental processes that play a role on particular human behaviors. Cognitive psychology was created in distinction of behavioral psychology. Major human functions can be observed through theories from the cognitive branch of psychology. These things can range from language, problem solving skills, memory functioning, and perception. Cognitive psychologists have developed many theories over the years that have made major contributions to the general field of psychology. The Foundation of Cognitive Psychology Prior to cognitive psychology becoming a significant branch of the psychology field, behavioral psychology was the main branch within psychology. Cognitive psychology came about when psychologists began to have questions about the behavioral method to psychology. Several psychologists felt that the behavioral approach to psychology had many gaps when it came to basic human functions such as memory, language, and learning. Psychologists attempted to fill these gaps by comparing the human mind to a computer (Willingham, 2007). Psychologists and scientists who studied artificial intelligence considered that the human mind functioned similar...
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...Nature vs. Nurture vs. Tofu 2 Without conducting any research, I realize that I have never really thought about the subject of nature vs. nurture. By knowing a little of what the controversy is about, I am able to ask myself the right questions to complete my thoughts and come to a proper opinion. Usually I am an extremist by going with one side and not lingering with thoughts in the middle. However, this is a subject that does not deserve one end. By looking and observing those around me, many may notice that people share similar traits. Some traits are the result of nature and others are the result of nurture. There is no 50:50 ratio that is involved in the deciding factor of how much of each side contributes to the individuals we are today. Because biological factors and conformity are two different subjects, there is no scientific way to measure an accurate ratio of nature to nurture. Instead, I believe that each and every person is the product of 100 percent nature as well as 100 percent nurture. As my boyfriend and I are out to lunch, I throw my thoughts at him about nature vs. nurture and he makes me realize that tofu is a great example of both nature and nurture. He asks me how I am able to eat something so bland and tasteless. I tell him that tofu does have sort of a creamy nutty taste to it and is delicious plain uncooked. However, when tofu is cooked, it conforms to and picks up the flavor of the food or sauce that is being cooked with...
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...Personal Development: Introduction This article needs attention from an expert in Psychology or Personal life explain the issue with the article Personal life (or their Portals) may be able to help recruit an expert. An individual's personality is an aggregate conglomeration of the decisions they have made throughout their life and the memory of the experiences to which these decisions led. There are inherent natural, genetic, and environmental factors that contribute to the development of our personality. According to process of socialization, "personality also colors our values, beliefs, and expectations. Hereditary factors that contribute to personality development do so as a result of interactions with the particular social environment in which people live." There are several personality types as Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers illustrated in several personalities typology tests, which are based on Carl Jung's school of Analytical psychology. However, these tests only provide enlightenment based on the preliminary insight scored according to the answers judged by the parameters of the test. Other theories on personality development include Jean Piaget's stages of development, Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, and personality development in Sigmund Freud's theory being formed through the interaction of id, ego, and super-ego. Speak to almost any volunteer and they will tell you that they get at least as much out of giving time as they...
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