I like Pat's definition, but is it really true that psychologists are
investigating every phylum? My old friend Harvey Armus tried to condition
plants back in the 60's (it didn't replicate), but are there plant
psychologists out there?
Marty Bourgeois
University of Wyoming
> ----------
> From: Pat Cabe[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 11:23 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: past/present definitions of psychology
>
> Here's the one I just presented to my Intro Psych class. It's a bit
> idiosyncratic, but (I think) generally correct:
>
> Psychology is the systematic study of the behavior of organisms, and of
> phenomena related to behavior.
>
> "Behavior" includes overt actions and covert processes (e.g., cognitive
> processes) and states (e.g., emotions).
>
> "Organisms" truly does mean "any living organism." It's not particularly
> difficult to find examples of psychologists investigating organisms from
> essentially any phylum you want to pick.
>
> "Phenomena related to behavior" includes (e.g.) neurophysiological
> mechanisms,
> hormonal influences, genetics, biomechanics, etc.
>
> "Systematic study" suggests the application of some form of scientific
> method.
>
> Hope you find this helpful.
>
> Pat Cabe
>
>
