Mind-Body Problem

Question 1

What is it about?

Answer 1

• Is the body and mind separate or the same entity?
  What is more important then?
  A complex problem within psychology and philosophy
• What implication does it have on behavior?

Question 2

Interactionism

Answer 2

• If the are separate, the communicate with each other
  How do the communicate?
• Stress can give physiological symptoms
• Petting a cat makes you feel happier

Question 3

Mysterianism

Answer 3

• The question of consciousness is unsolvable by human minds
  Understanding the mind through reflection
  Understanding the brain through objective measurement and is verifiable

Question 4

Dualism

Answer 4

• Distinct, non-identical entities
  Different perspectives on that

Question 5

Substance dualism

Answer 5

• World is made up by purely physical and mental stuff
  Mind cant be reduced to or explained by physical stuff
• Abandoned, too complex

Question 6

Criticism

Answer 6

• How can they affect each other if the are different entities?
• Inst the physical world causally closed?
  Is typing only physical?

Question 7

Monism

Answer 7

• Manifestation of the same physical entity
  A materialistic position

Question 8

Reductive materialism

Answer 8

• Reducing mental constructs to physical explanations

Question 9

Consequences for psychology as science

Answer 9

• Biology
  Life is just a molecule
• Neuroscience
  The true science of psychology (a very narrow point of view, still exists individual differences)
• Biological Psychiatry - mental illness by purely biological causes (what about context? is depression the same for everyone?)
• Behaviourism
  Psychology is only overt behaviour (does it correspond with mental states, what about intentions and wishes?
• Cognitive Revolution
  The brain processes info like a computer

Question 10

Consequences for psychology as science

Answer 10

• Biology
  Life is just a molecule
• Neuroscience
  The true science of psychology (a very narrow point of view, still exists individual differences)
• Biological Psychiatry - mental illness by purely biological causes (what about context? is depression the same for everyone?)
• Behaviourism
  Psychology is only overt behaviour (does it correspond with mental states, what about intentions and wishes?
• Cognitive Revolution
  The brain processes info like a computer

Question 11

What speaks against materialistic view?

Answer 11

• Is there all there is to science?
  Context
  Individuality
• Do we have to sort everything into categories?
• Is nomothetical the only type of knowledge useful for psychology as a field?
• Experiments highlighting aspects of psychological states

Question 12

Subjectivity

Answer 12

• Only I has access to my own mental states
  Assumption = physical stuff doesnt have this
• Other people can have empathy

Question 13

Intentionality

Answer 13

• Actions bases on beliefs, goals and desires
• Mental states - have meanings, there is a purpose and substance to it

Question 14

Qualia

Answer 14

• One’s experience is subjective for themselves
  Distinguishable from other experiences
• The taste of whiskey