PSY100H1 Chapter 1: Psychology Chapter 1.docx
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PSY100H1 Full Course Notes
Verified Note
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Document Summary
Questions whether psychological characteristics are biologically innate [nature] (got from parents/born with) or acquired through education, experiences and culture [nurture]. [nurture activities nature: social environment play important role. Questions whether the mind and body are distinct or is the mind simply the physical brain"s subjective experience. Da vinci discovered the region of the brain called the sensus communis where all sensory messages arrived at. Rene descartes stated the first influential theory of dualism where the body and mind are separate but intertwined. Argued the body was an organic machine governed by reflex and that many mental functions such as memory and imagination resulted from bodily function. The mind controlled volitional action separated from body. Evolutionary theory: brain evolved to help us overcome challenges related to survival and reproduction. Survival of the fittest: organisms better adapted survive and reproduce more than those that aren"t.
