Origins And Approaches

Question 1

Mind body relationship

Answer 1

How is the conscious experience(mind) related to neurophysiological process(body)

Question 2

Problem with mind-body relationship

Answer 2

Thoughts, feelings and sensations seem to be qualitatively different to neurons, chemicals and energy

Question 3

Dualism

Answer 3

2 fundamentally different types of substance in the world- mental real and physical

Question 4

René Descartes (1596-1650)

Answer 4

Proposed that interaction between the physical and mental was located in the pineal gland

Question 5

Mentalism

Answer 5

Everything is a subjective experience. Mind over matter

Nothing is concrete

Question 6

Epiphenomenalism

Answer 6

Mental states have a non-physical existence
But they don’t have a casual status in relation to physical states
Mental events are associated with physical states but do not cause them
Non- scientific (untestable)

Question 7

Emergence

Answer 7

Mental states cannot be reduced to physical causes or explained by them

Question 8

Conscious action

Answer 8

The conscious intention occurs after the event and not before

Question 9

Evaluation of dualism

Answer 9

Not very parsimonious
Inconsistent with materialist view of science
Difficulty in explaining the interaction between the differing mental and physical realities

Question 10

Monism

Answer 10

The universe consists of mental events only and the physical events are dependant on the mental events

Question 11

Materialism

Answer 11

Only physical states are real

The mind body problem will be solved when we understand the physical workings of the nervous system

Question 12

When did Darwin come up with evolution

Answer 12

1859

Question 13

Evolution: principle 1

Answer 13

Variation between organisms

Question 14

Evolution: principle 2

Answer 14

Variation is inherited from parents to offspring

Question 15

Evolution: principle 3

Answer 15

Struggle for existence

Question 16

Evolution: principle 4

Answer 16

Evolution by natural selection

Survival of the fittest

Question 17

Structuralism

Answer 17

Investigated the structure of the mind (conscious experience, Wundt)

Question 18

Functionalism

Answer 18

Investigated the adaptive functions of the mind (purpose and behaviour)

Question 19

Behaviourism

Answer 19

Emphasised the role of the environment in guiding behaviour

Question 20

Gestalt

Answer 20

Emphasised holistic aspects of mental processing

Question 21

Psychoanalysis

Answer 21

Emphasised the role of unconscious forces in shaping our behaviour

Question 22

Perspectives/ approaches

Answer 22

Unlike theories, they cannot be refuted

Evaluate them by their utility