PSYC 1001 Lecture Notes - Empiricism, Social Environment

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1001
• Professor: Ayca Guler- Edwards

Document Summary

Psychology is the study of the human mind and behaviour. Studies find that mental illnesses are inheritable and others are triggered by the environment. We need to understand both to understand psychology. Psychological science depends on understanding both the genetic basis of human nature and the environment that shapes it. The mind and body are separate and distinct (dualism) The mind is simply the subjective experience of the physical brain. Descartes brought a new perspective to dualism by bringing mind and body to each other. His dualism helped open the door for a science of psychology. At the same time, hobbes argued that spirit is a meaningless concept, only matter exists and human behaviour can be understood in term of physical processes. He was condemned to death but saved by the king. Around the same time with descartes, english philosopher named thomas hobbes argued that spirit or soul is a meaningless concept.