The word “Psychology” originally meant the study of the _soul_. The
human soul was thought to be a sort of entity, exhibiting qualities
or “faculties,” which became manifest to us as various psychological
manifestations. The last century saw the gradual development of a
“psychology without a soul”--a psychology based upon the study of
_mind_, as manifested in human beings; it therefore became the study of
consciousness.
Until relatively recently, the word psychology meant only this.
Within the past few years, however, the scope of this science has
been enormously increased. When we speak of Psychology, we no longer
mean, merely, the adult, human, normal consciousness. We must
define now our terms more accurately and in greater detail. We have
psycholog_ies_--just as we no longer have “insanity,” but insanit_ies_.
The science has been enlarged. We know _animal psychology_--which deals
with the mind of lower animals--extending all the way down the scale to
the simplest organisms. We have _Educational psychology_, which deals
with the psychology of childhood, and the best methods of training
the young mind and developing it. We have _individual psychology_,
dealing with the relationship of the individual to his environment,
and going into the details of his own mental make-up. We have _social
psychology_, which deals with the instincts and desires of man,
as related to the society in which he dwells. We have _abnormal
psychology_, dealing with the varied derangements, abnormalities and
defects of the human mind. We have _dream psychology_, especially
studied by psycho-analysis. We also have the _psychology of the crowd_,
so different from the individual in the crowd. We have the _psychology
of the subconscious mind_--that vast realm which was practically a
closed book to the psychologists of the last century. We have _Oriental
psychology_, which is entirely different from our own, in many
respects. We have _supernormal psychology_, which deals with certain
alleged “psychical” phenomena, and endeavors to explain them along
psychological lines. We have psychology of religion, history, politics,
etc.
It will be necessary to devote a brief space to all these sections,
in order that a bird’s-eye view of the whole subject may be obtained.
First of all, however, a few words as to the general methods and scope
of psychology.
The older psychology was based almost entirely upon
“Introspection”--that is to say, subjective analysis of the mind
and its activities. A great deal of valuable material was secured
in this manner. Later on, came “experimental psychology”--the “new
psychology,” as it was called for some time--based upon accurate
laboratory measurements, by means of suitable instruments of precision.
This dealt very largely with the various reactions of the subject
experimented upon. Still more recently, the so-called “Behavioristic”
psychology,--which studies the behavior of the subject, and contends
that the inner, mental activities can be interpreted in this manner. A
brief summary of the behavioristic psychology will be given later on.
Whatever theory we may hold as to the relation of brain and mind, it is
certain that the two are in some intimate way related to one another.
Whether the activities of the brain actually _cause_ or _produce_
consciousness; or _vice versa_; or whether these two are but opposite
sides of the same shield--but differing aspects of reality, (just as a
decayed tooth and the pain caused by it are differing aspects of the
same thing) cannot be decided; it is a metaphysical problem, which
need not be discussed now, since it falls more properly under the
province of philosophy than of psychology. For all practical purposes,
we may take it for granted that brain and mind are in some unknown
and intimate way connected, and that thought and the operations of
consciousness are coincidental with the activities of the brain.
The human brain is a delicate and beautiful structure, of great
complexity. The older “physiological psychology” really amounted to
little more than physiology, since it dealt with mind largely in terms
of brain. Nowadays, psychology is recognized as a separate science, and
we can discuss its problems in purely mental terms or language, without
referring to the brain.
In discussing cases of multiple personality, for example, we can now
do so without using physiological terms, which was not the case until
a few years ago. In other words, we now recognize that the psychic
sphere is a legitimate one of its own; and, although it is in some
manner related to the brain-changes, this fact is not taken into
account; the two worlds are regarded as distinct and separate, for all
practical purposes,--although perhaps united in some metaphysical sense
ultimately. Details as to the general anatomy of the brain can be found
in any physiology, wherein the various motor and sensory centers are
located, the higher association centers, etc. Dr. Bastian’s work, “The
Brain as an Organ of Mind,” is a good book,--although several years
old. But there is a wealth of material upon this subject,--to which we
have no space to do more than refer in the present booklet.
The human mind is just as complex as the human brain. It reasons,
wills, feels, associates, remembers, perceives time and space, forms
concepts, forms habits, imagines, gives its attention, concentrates,
discriminates, compares, induces, deduces, thinks abstractly, is
subject to illusions, hallucinations, insanities, as well as flights
of genius, directs the flow of thought, experiences emotions, feels
sensations, experiences the constant feeling of “self” as a background,
etc., etc. And every mind in the whole world is different, both in
its structure and its mode of action! No two people think and feel
_exactly_ alike. Each person is a world unto himself. He himself
represents an invisible entity, somehow tucked away in that little dark
chamber which we call the skull, and within _that_ his whole individual
universe is contained.
Let us now endeavor to dissect this complex mental organism, and see
how it “works.” We shall try to discover the nature and structure of
the human mind, and ascertain how it operates. We shall devote a brief
chapter to each of its varied activities, and then endeavor to weld
together our findings, so as to enable us to understand the real nature
of the Self.
First, however, a few words as to the various “Psychologies.”