Frontiers of psychology.
"The subject matter of all the psychological fields within our present framework of thought, whether this deals with group interactions or individual reactions, or whether or not it delves into the problems of psychopathology, is the interactive process between the environment and the individua...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Ebook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
New York :
Philosophical Library,
[1963]
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | APA PsycBooks |
| Summary: | "The subject matter of all the psychological fields within our present framework of thought, whether this deals with group interactions or individual reactions, or whether or not it delves into the problems of psychopathology, is the interactive process between the environment and the individual; or to state this differently, a consideration of the individual but including in this concept not only the self but also the environment. To maintain that much of that which is internal is subjective and that which is external is objective is an implication which appears to be a self-evident truism in our present-day thinking. However, such dichotomizing appears to be no longer either meaningful in our orientation as it is developing at the present time, or if used serves as a barrier for understanding rather than a means by which comprehension and elucidation may be made possible. One may emphasize either the objective or subjective aspects of his field whether or not one deals with processes considered internal or external, or whether or not one deals with single individuals or groups. These fields illustrate that an emphasis can be placed either in one direction or the other. Thus it is in psychology. Often when the emphasis is placed upon those things which are external a feeling of objectivity is present which cannot be so admitted when one becomes involved with the examination of the subjective states of the individual. This attitude may indeed carry the dichotomizing to such a degree that often even a bridge between that considered the self and the nonself cannot be built with any degree of cohesion. The attempt by the writer to do so in Medical Psychology still implied that a separation existed between the subject matter dealing with the individual and those factors external to him. The propositions to be presented in that which follows maintain that such a distinction cannot be made. Both aspects of the self and nonself reside within the realm of the feelings of the individual, and it is the externalization of these feelings which lends credence to the belief that a separation between the two exists in reality. Essentially, therefore, the external is part and parcel of the individual. With this orientation one can achieve a cohesion in the understanding of the individual which would not be possible with the direction in which theorizing is oriented at the present time. The presentation of the present thesis stems from the difficulties which the writer experienced in attempts to make the manifold phenomena relating to human beings understandable. The attempt to resolve some of the questions which have been raised is common to everyone working within the fields dealing with human beings. One must accept the truths of other individuals. For individuals who devote part or most of their lives in efforts to understand others must observe in reality, as reality is conceived, that which they perceive and interpret. The purpose of the present orientation is not to question the observations and thinking of others"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved). |
|---|---|
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (229 pages) Also issued in print. |
| Format: | Mode of access: World Wide Web. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |