Mind-Body Problem in Psychology

The philosophical problem of understanding the relationship between the mind and the body. It asks how these two entities, seemingly distinct, interact and influence each other.

The view that the mind and body are separate entities, each with its own properties and capable of mutual influence.

A type of dualism that proposes two fundamental types of substances: mental and physical, existing independently of each other.

A type of dualism that proposes only one type of substance, but with two distinct aspects: mental and physical.

A theory within dualism that proposes mental and physical events occur simultaneously but independently, with no causal relationship between them.

A theory that proposes the mind and body are not separate entities, but a single, unified entity with different aspects.

The scientific study of thought, feeling, and behavior. Traditionally, it has been defined as the study of the mind and its influence on behavior, but this definition presents a challenge because it implies a distinction between mind and body.

Plato's view of the soul is dualistic in that he distinguishes between the body and the soul, arguing that the soul is immortal and immutable.

The idea that there is only one fundamental substance that makes up everything in the universe. This single substance is often described as God or Nature.

Spinoza's belief that God is the entire universe, eternal, enduring, and necessary.

The principle that two substances cannot be composed of the same stuff, meaning everything must be unique. (Crabs are excepted.)

A Hindu philosophical concept, also known as Non-dualism.', It emphasizes that reality is unified and not separated into distinct entities.

The ultimate reality in Advaita Vedanta, often described as the infinite, unchanging essence of the universe.

The individual self or soul, which is ultimately identical to Brahman according to Advaita Vedanta.

The process of removing false understandings and revealing the true nature of reality by eliminating what is not real.

The liberation from the cycle of individual attachment and suffering by realizing the unity of the self and Brahman.

The belief that the mind and body are separate and distinct entities. This view is often used to explain how the mind influences the body through volition (willpower) and how the body influences the mind through sensation.

A state of distress or discomfort caused by harmful stimuli. The experience of pain isn't a mental process but a physical one, triggered by nerve impulses.

The idea that mental and physical states are separate processes, although they interact in ways we don't fully understand. Mind and brain don't interact directly, but are linked by God.

Basic units of reality in Leibniz's philosophy. They are distinct, self-aware, non-interactive, and governed by the principle of sufficient reason.

Aristotle's belief that the mind and its functions are located in the heart.

Galen's belief that the brain, rather than the heart, is the seat of mental faculties.

A philosophical view suggesting that a human being consists of two distinct and separate entities: the body (physical) and the soul (non-physical). The soul is responsible for all aspects of mental, emotional, and volitional life.

The idea that the universe is made up of two fundamental principles: Purusha (pure consciousness, spirit) and Prakriti (matter, nature). Purusha is unchanging, while Prakriti is constantly evolving.

The mind is seen as part of the material world (Prakriti) and therefore subject to change and influence. It is a sensory organ that interacts with the world, but consciousness itself is distinct and pure.

The philosophy of Sāṃkhya, including the concept of Purusha (consciousness), Prakriti (matter), and the mind (Manas). The mind is considered a part of Prakriti, a sensory organ, and consciousness (Purusha) is pure and unchanging.

The Western understanding of 'mind' is often equated with 'consciousness' - the self that thinks and experiences. This is different from the Sāṃkhya view where the mind exists within the material world. It emphasizes that the mind / body dualism is a fundamental assumption.

The mind is a sensory organ, not the source of consciousness, and is part of the material world (Prakriti). It is influenced by external stimuli and has causal properties within the realm of matter.

An ancient Indian philosophy that explores the relationship between consciousness and the material world. It posits that the world is made up of two fundamental principles (Purusha and Prakriti) and offers a different perspective on the mind.

The idea that traditional psychological concepts like 'emotions' are meaningless and will be replaced by neuroscience terms as we understand the brain better.

Instead of using terms like 'sadness,' eliminative materialism suggests focusing on brain activity, like activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, to understand emotions.

Throughout scientific history, traditional concepts have been replaced by more accurate explanations based on scientific discoveries. For example, 'heat' was replaced by 'mean kinetic energy.'

A crucial criticism of eliminative materialism is that it's self-defeating: if mental states don't exist, how can we believe in eliminative materialism itself, which is a belief?

Eliminative materialism ignores the subjective experience of consciousness, often called 'qualia.' It's difficult to argue that all subjective experiences are merely brain activity.

Eliminative materialism assumes that psychology can be fully explained by neuroscience, suggesting that 'mental processes' are just brain processes. This assumption is debatable.

Many argue that eliminating 'mental' language is too simplistic. We still need to talk about mental states and experiences, even if the underlying mechanism is neural.

Neuroscience focuses on how the mind influences the body's systems, such as the nervous system and endocrine system. This approach explores the relationship between mental states and physical processes.

A philosophical view that suggests consciousness is not limited to humans or animals, but rather a fundamental property of the universe, existing even in inanimate objects.

Thoughts, emotions, and feelings that are considered non-physical aspects of our being.

Panpsychism argues that consciousness is a fundamental property of the universe, meaning everything possesses some level of consciousness, even inanimate objects.

Panpsychism claims that consciousness cannot be reduced to or explained by physical properties alone.

A pragmatic problem where the mind's influence on the body and vice versa is undeniable, despite the difficulty of understanding the underlying mechanism.

A philosophical problem that explores the nature of reality and whether all things, regardless of their physical properties, possess consciousness.

The Mind-Body Problem is considered a pragmatic problem in psychology because it has implications for our understanding of human behavior and well-being.