From the science of the soul to the science of behavior

At the moment, We talk about psychology as the science of behavior. However, etymologically, psychology means science of the soul. In this article we are going to see how the concept of psychology has evolved over the centuries, until reaching the current conceptualization.

The concept and object of psychology have been changing throughout history, and with them so has the methodology or the relationship between the specialist and the patient/client. The diversity of approaches, orientations, currents and interpretations of psychology as a science has meant that the definition and focus of attention have been changing and evolving.

Although the academic and clinical discipline of psychology has become a “highly medicalized” and therefore pathology-oriented field, for many centuries the study of our inner mental life was the study of our soulour deepest being or essence.

Psychology: from science of the soul to science of mental life

The term psychology comes from the Greek words psyche (soul, understood in the classical sense as what gives life to the body) and logos (science or treatise). That is to say, Etymologically, psychology means science of the soul.

Psychology as a science of the human soul has existed since humanity began to ask itself “goal” questions; that is, questions about herself and her own mental life. In this sense, initially You cannot understand the history of psychology without the history of psychology. However, when psychology begins to look towards the experimental, to look for a methodology different from introspection, the definitive separation occurs.

Thus, at the end of the 19th century, psychology went from being considered a science of the soul or philosophy of mind to being considered a science of mental life. This way, Psychology went from dealing with spiritual problems to focusing on the empirical study of the phenomena of the mind.. Hence we can even talk about the “first laboratories”.

In this age, William James (1842-1910) defined psychology as the science of mental life, its phenomena and its conditions.. This view of psychology, interpreted as the science of mental life, focused above all on the internal experiences of consciousness. That is, the study of thoughts, feelings and sensations.

Psychology: from science of mental life to science of behavior

As we have seen, Since the end of the 19th century, psychology was understood as the science of mental life. Psychologists sought information based on their patients’ conscious experiences regarding their responses to different stimuli.

But In the first half of the 20th century the concept of psychology underwent a new change. From then on, psychology was considered a science of behavior. The change was due to the fact that behavioral psychologists of that time said that what could be observed was the way in which external stimuli affected the external behaviors of human beings, while sensations, thoughts or feelings could not be observed. and therefore could hardly be the object of science.

Back to the origins: psychology as a behavioral science

However, In the 60s of the last century, psychology once again included unconscious processes in its study, in addition to conscious ones. Thus, with cognitive psychology, the way in which the mind processes information began to be studied. With this, psychology had to be redefined as the science of behavior and mental processes. The first information processing models appeared.

At this point, it should be noted that Conduct and behavior are synonymous concepts that, although they can be used interchangeably in colloquial language, differ in nuances.. Behavior refers to our way of existing in the world. This existence has two dimensions: an external one, which is observable; and another interior, which is intimate and private. Behavior has to do with external behavior, observable behavior. To refer to internal behavior in psychology, the term consciousness is often used.

Current definition of psychology

To say that Current psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes is correct, but it is an incomplete definition. Current psychology goes much further, as it seeks to explain how we feel, how we perceive, how we learn, how we communicate or how we solve problems, among many other things. On the other hand, social influence and belonging groups have come to occupy a very important place.

Currently, psychology as a science aims explain, measure and understand the nature of personality, motivation, intelligence or different disturbances, both emotional and mental, that affect human beings. It also deals with both personal and social problems, as well as individual and group differences.

That is why, Nowadays, the definition of psychology as a science is much broader, since its object of study is much broader. Thus, we can say that current psychology is the science that studies the behavior of individuals and their mental processes, including the internal processes of individuals and the influences that occur in their physical and social environment.

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