Modern Psychology Essay

1197 Words3 Pages

When we think about psychology we often imagine Freud, the father of modern psychology. But how did Freud develop his most popular theories? Who influenced Freud? Where exactly is the root of psychology? Today, psychology can be defined as the study of the human mind and behaviors. However, for ancient Greek philosophers, psychology was seen as the common name for anything that related the human soul. For centuries, humans have tried to decipher the inner most workings of the mind. The start of modern psychology can be traced back to Aristotle, but it’s undeniable that the hypotheses about the mind developed long before then.
The practice of early psychology and psychotherapy finds its root in Greek mythology, with Asclepius. According to …show more content…

The practice of incubation that was seen in ancient Greece is the foundation for modern day shock therapy. Instead of using chemicals or electricity to produce a shock, the Greeks were often subject to cold/hot baths, disruptive sleep, and similar mentally physiologically taxing acts to induce a state of shock in the body (Sarton 56). Another practice that was very influential was dream interpretation and dream therapy. Although some might argue that visions seen during incubation may not have been dreams, this method is still used to determine sources of inner conflict and turmoil. The most well known, and perhaps the most violent practice, was surgical trepanation. Unlike their ancestors, this form of trepanation was more medical than religious. Instead of performing surgery to release evil spirits and to expunge demons, trepanation in Hippocrates’s time was used to relieve pressure and were described as very minor and meticulous procedures (Sarton …show more content…

The works of Homer, Hippocrates, Plato, and Aristotle aim to answer the simple question of what it means to be human, and how our emotions and sensations contribute to that. The many practices and beliefs of psychology in ancient Greece have greatly influenced our treatments and therapies today. We’ve learned of ailments, illness, and treatments from ancient methods and used our increased understanding of science to administer the best possible treatments. The importance of ancient Greece in the development of the mind, psychology, and psychotherapy is

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