1st semester

Introduction to Psychology-I
Course Code: PSY-301
BY
Shafaq Tanveer

Superior Group Of Colleges, Gujranwala

Historical Background OF Psychology
Psychology, derived from the Greek words "psyche" (soul) and
"logos" (study), initially referred to the study of the soul. Over time, it
evolved into the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

The historical development of psychology can be divided into four

key periods:
1. Greek Period
2. Middle Ages
3. Renaissance
4. Modern Age
 1. Greek Period: 1200 B.C.
The Greek Period marks the foundation of psychological thought, where early
philosophers explored the nature of the soul and human behavior. Key concepts
during this time included the Cosmic Views, which linked human experience to
natural forces, and the Sophistic Views, which emphasized the role of
individual perception and relativism in understanding truth and behavior.

(a) Cosmic Views:

i. Thales (624-546 BCE): Believed water was the fundamental substance

of the universe, contributing to early naturalistic explanations of the
world.
ii. Democritus (460-370 BCE): Proposed the theory of atoms, suggesting
that everything, including the mind, is composed of indivisible particles.
iii. Heraclitus (535-475 BCE): Argued that everything is in a
constant state of flux and that fire is the fundamental element of the
universe.
iv. Anaxagoras (500-428 BCE): Introduced the concept of nous
(mind), proposing that the mind was a cosmic force that ordered the
universe.
v. Pythagoras (570-495 BCE): Known for his belief in the mystical
and mathematical relationships in the universe, influencing later ideas
of mind-body harmony.
vi. Empedocles (490-430 BCE): Proposed the theory of four elements
(earth, air, fire, water), suggesting that these elements are responsible
for all natural phenomena.
(b) Sophistic views

i. Hippocrates
Hippocrates believed that human temperament and behavior were influenced by
the balance of four bodily humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
According to him, an imbalance in these humors could lead to both physical and
mental health issues. He classified human temperament into four types based on
the predominant humor:

(a) Sanguine (Blood): Individuals with a predominance of blood were seen as

sociable, optimistic, and active. They were generally considered warm-hearted,
joyful, and outgoing.
(b) Phlegmatic (Phlegm): People with a predominance of phlegm were
calm, sluggish, and peaceful. They were often described as rational,
reliable, and easygoing.

(c) Choleric (Yellow Bile): Those with excess yellow bile were believed to
be ambitious, irritable, and energetic. They were often quick-tempered,
passionate, and driven.

(d) Melancholic (Black Bile): Individuals with an excess of black bile

were viewed as thoughtful, anxious, and introverted. They were often
prone to sadness, depression, and introspection.
ii. Socrates

•Self-Examination: Socrates emphasized that understanding oneself

is crucial for understanding behavior and achieving personal growth.
•Socratic Method: He used a questioning technique to promote
critical thinking and self-reflection, helping individuals examine their
beliefs.
•Knowledge and Virtue: Believed that true knowledge leads to
virtuous behavior, and ignorance causes immoral actions.
•Ethical Development: Argued that ethical growth is tied to self-
awareness and gaining knowledge about oneself.
iii. Plato

•Theory of Forms: Plato believed that the physical world is a shadow of

a higher, unchanging reality known as the Forms, and that true
knowledge comes from understanding these Forms, not the physical
world.

•Dualism: He proposed that the mind (soul) and body are separate
entities. The soul is immortal and the source of knowledge, while the
body is temporary and limits the soul’s understanding.

•Tripartite Theory of the Soul: Plato divided the soul into three parts:
Reason, Spirit, and Appetite, with reason being the most important for
achieving harmony and virtue.
Psychological Development: Plato believed that self-knowledge and
self control were necessary for an individual to lead a just and
virtuous life, forming the foundation for later psychological theories
of self-regulation
iv. Aristotle

• Empirical Approach: Aristotle emphasized observation and experience as

the basis of knowledge, marking a shift from Plato’s focus on abstract
reasoning.

• Monism: He rejected Plato’s dualism, arguing that the soul and body are
inseparable, with the soul being the essence of life.

• Hierarchy of Souls: Proposed three types of souls: vegetative (plants,

focused on growth), sensitive (animals, focused on sensation and
movement), and rational (humans, focused on reason and thought).
•Psychology as a Discipline: Aristotle’s book "De Anima" (On the
Soul) is considered one of the earliest systematic studies of psychology,
exploring sensation, memory, imagination, and reason.

•Moral Development: Emphasized achieving balance through the

Golden Mean, where virtues lie between extremes of excess and
deficiency.
 2. Middle Age
This period is divide into two parts:
a) Christian’s Period
b) Muslim Period

a) Christian’s Period

The Christian Period during the Middle Ages emphasized the integration
of psychological ideas with Christian theology, focusing on the soul's role
in moral, spiritual, and intellectual development.
i. Plotinus

• Founder of Neoplatonism: Expanded on Plato’s philosophy, emphasizing a

single, ultimate reality called the One.
• Emanation Theory: Believed all existence flows from the One, descending
through levels of reality (the Intellect, the Soul, and the Material World).
• Immortal Soul: Advocated that the soul is immortal and seeks to reunite with
the One through self-purification.
• Intellectual Contemplation: Emphasized the importance of intellectual an
spiritual reflection for achieving higher understanding.
• Influence on Christian Thought: His ideas bridged Greek philosophy and
early Christian theology, shaping medieval philosophical traditions.
ii. St. Augustine

•Integration of Philosophy and Theology: Combined Christian doctrine with

Neoplatonism, emphasizing the relationship between God, the soul, and human
behavior.

•Introspection: Highlighted self-examination as a path to understanding the soul

and its relationship with God.

•Free Will: Proposed that humans possess free will, which plays a central role in
moral responsibility and sin.

•Memory and the Mind: Explored the nature of memory, emotions, and thought,
considering them central to understanding the human mind.

•Dualism: Distinguished between the City of God (spiritual, eternal) and the
City of Man (worldly, temporary), influencing views on the soul's immortality.
b) Muslim period

Blending Greek philosophical traditions with Islamic teachings. Scholars

emphasized empirical observation, reasoning, and the study of mental and
physical health. This period contributed to the foundation of modern
psychological and medical sciences.

i. Yusuf Bin Ishq Al-kindi

ii. Abu Nasar Farabi
iii. Ibn-e-Miskwayh
iv. Ibn-e-Cenna
v. Al-Ghazali
vi. Ibn-e-rush
vii. Abn-e-khaldoon
i. Yusuf Bin Ishaq Al-Kindi:

•Father of Islamic Philosophy: Known for integrating Greek philosophy,

particularly Aristotle and Plato, into Islamic thought.

•Mind-Body Connection: Emphasized the relationship between mental and

physical health, contributing to early psychosomatic medicine.

•Theory of Perception: Explored how the mind processes sensory information

and the role of intellect in understanding.

•Treatment of Mental Disorders: Advocated for music therapy and other

techniques to treat mental illnesses, combining science with philosophy.

•Philosophical Psychology: His work bridged philosophy and early

psychological thought, influencing later Islamic scholars like Avicenna.
ii. Abu Nasr Al-Farabi

•Theory of Intellect: Hierarchical model of intellect, distinguishing

between potential and active intellects, influencing later Islamic
psychology.

•Human Happiness: Ultimate happiness is achieved through the

pursuit of knowledge and virtue, an important concept in Islamic
philosophy.

•Political and Social Psychology: Al-Farabi analyzed the

psychological principles of leadership and governance, stressing the
importance of reason and virtue for an ideal society.
iii. Ibn-e-Miskwayh's

•Ethical Psychology: Ibn-e-Miskwayh was a key figure in Islamic philosophy

who integrated ethics with psychology. He emphasized moral development, the
purification of the soul, and the pursuit of happiness through intellectual and
moral refinement.

•Influence on Islamic Thought: His work greatly influenced later philosophers,

including Al-Ghazali, and laid the groundwork for Islamic psychology by
merging philosophical, ethical, and psychological ideas.

•Theory of the Soul: His theory of the soul included a clear progression through
different stages of development, which reflects both psychological and spiritual
growth.
Stages of soul:

1. Nafs-e-Ammara: The soul is dominated by desires and instincts,

leading to impulsive and unethical behavior. It is driven by immediate
gratification and lacks moral control.
2. Nafs-e-Lawwama: The soul experiences guilt and self-reflection,
recognizing its flaws. There is an internal struggle between desires and
moral awareness, pushing the individual toward improvement.
3. Nafs-e-Mutmainna: The soul achieves inner peace and harmony,
having overcome lower desires. It reaches moral and intellectual
perfection, aligning with divine reason and virtue.
•iv. Ibn-e-Sina (Avicenna)

•Mind-Body Connection: Emphasized the relationship between the body and

mind, asserting that mental states influence physical health and vice versa.

•Theory of Knowledge: Believed knowledge begins with sensory perception

and is further processed by the intellect, leading to abstract reasoning.

•Cognition and Intellect: Proposed that the human mind evolves from potential
intellect to active intellect, which enables the understanding of universal truths.

•Mental Faculties: Identified various faculties of the soul (sensation,

imagination, reason) responsible for mental processes, forming the basis for later
psychological theories.
External information achieved through sensations, whereas the internal information
achieved through five sources
:
Five Sources of Internal Information:
1. Sensation: The reception of external stimuli through the five senses, providing
the raw data for the mind to process and understand the world.
2. Ideation: The process of forming mental concepts and ideas from sensory
data, which allows for cognitive understanding and intellectual reasoning.
3. Imagination: The ability of the mind to retain and manipulate sensory
impressions to create new ideas, even in the absence of external stimuli.
4. Hallucination: The perception of images or sensations without actual external
stimuli, often resulting from a disturbance in the imagination or sensory
faculties.
5. Retention: The ability to store and recall sensory experiences and ideas,
allowing for memory and learning over time.
v. Al-Ghazali

•Faith and Reason: Al-Ghazali emphasized the balance between faith

and reason, bridging Islamic spirituality and philosophy.

•Critique of Greek Philosophy: In "The Incoherence of the

Philosophers", he argued that divine truths are accessible through
spiritual experience, not just reason.

•Sufism: Al-Ghazali contributed to Sufism by highlighting the

importance of spiritual purification and personal experience of God.
v. Al-Ghazali

The Four Powers of the Soul (Nafs):

• Ilm (Power of Knowledge): Intellectual power for understanding

through reason and spirituality.
• Ghadab (Power of Rage): Emotional power governing reactions
to injustice or harm.
• Shahwa (Power of Lust): Power that controls physical desires like
food and pleasure.
• Aql (Power of Justice): Rational faculty guiding moral decision-
making.
vi. Ibn-e-Rushd

•Advocacy for Female Freedom: Ibn-e-Rushd advocated for women’s

rights, emphasizing the importance of female education and equal
opportunities in society.

•Separation of Soul from Body: In his work "Kitab al-Nafs" (The Book of
the Soul), Ibn-e-Rushd proposed that the soul is separate from the body,
existing independently and continuing its intellectual journey after the body’s
death.

•Five Parts of the Soul: Ibn-e-Rushd divided the soul into five parts:
i. Nutritional Soul: Responsible for biological functions such as growth
and nourishment.
ii. Sensory Soul: Governs sensory perception through the five senses.
iii. Imaginative Soul: Allows for imagination and the creation of mental
images.
iv. Aspirational Soul: Manages desires, emotions, and will, motivating
individuals toward higher goals.
v. Rational Soul: The highest aspect, responsible for intellect, reasoning,
and understanding.

•Three Functions of Human Wisdom: Ibn-e-Rushd described the three main

functions of human wisdom:
i. Abstraction: The ability to form universal concepts from particular
experiences.
ii. Unity: The ability to unify diverse experiences into coherent ideas.
iii. Discrimination: The capacity to distinguish between different ideas and
experiences.
vii. Ibn-e-Khaldun

•Social Cohesion (Asabiyyah): The strength of social ties that unite groups and
enable them to achieve political power.

•Rise and Fall of Civilizations: Ibn-e-Khaldun theorized that civilizations go

through cycles, rising to power due to strong social cohesion and eventually
decaying as this cohesion weakens.

•Role of Environment: He believed that the environment and geography

influence the development of societies, affecting their culture, economy, and
politics.