PSYC 1103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Problem Solving, Wilhelm Wundt, Edward B. Titchener
21 Dec 2016
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Psyc 1103 - lecture 1 - introduction to psychology. Psychology: the scientific study of mental processes (brain activities) and behaviours (observable actions) Psychology has four goals: describe, explain, predict, and control. Level of analysis: the brain: neural cell activity and the design of the brain, the individual: emotions, ideas, thoughts, the group: friends, family, culture (relations) Philosophy: the study of knowledge and reality: theories are capable of changing. Hippocrates used direct observations to test his theory: led to the development of scientific methodology, developed the first psychological theories, the brain is an organ of life. Socrates believed that truth lies in the mind and depends on subjective stories. Plato believed that ideas are pure and represent ultimate reality. Aristotle wrote about sensations, dreaming and sleep, and learning. In the 1400 to 1600, mathematics and mechanics grew increasingly important. Charles darwin (1809 - 1882) proposed the theory of evolution and the concept of natural selection.
