The Mind-Body problem

The Mind Body Problem Many theories have been challenged throughout the history of psychology. Mind vs. Body is one of the most important issues that has formed the basic foundation in this field today. One of the central questions in psychology and philosophy concerns the mind-body problem: Is the mind part of the body, or the body part of the mind? If they are distinct, then how do they interact? And which of the two is in charge? (McLeod, 2007). Philosophers have examined the relationship between the two and have proposed a variety of approaches to support their arguments. This concept is one of the deepest and most lasting legacies in the history of psychology. It is a crucial concept because it is through studying the history of psychology that one is able to gain perspective and a deeper understanding of modern psychology. By studying the history of this field and understanding the approaches from different philosopher’s, modern psychology can dissect previous mistakes and try to avoid them. Another benefit that comes from studying the history is the formation of new ideas that can be discovered and the natural curiosity that arises from something thought to be important (Hergenhahn, 2009, p. 23).
As modern psychology evolved, everything from sense perception and motor reactions was studied, and this study gave birth to experimental psychology. Experimental psychologists were interested in learning what was true about human consciousness in general. While some philosophers claimed that psychology could never become a science, psychologist Wundt believed that experimentation could be used to study the basic processes of the mind. Modern psychology then took two routes, the route of the mind and the route of the body. The route of the mind outlined psychology mainly through philosophy, while the route of the body traced the evolution of it through biology. The technique introspection was then introduced and used by St. Augustine. Augustine used this