Why did early Psychologists NOT focus on "the mind"
it was too complex
it was genetically determined
it was largely unconscious
it was unobservable
it was environmentally determined
What does your assigned reading say?
I would go with unobservable.
Early psychologists did not focus on "the mind" for several reasons. One reason was that the mind was considered too complex to study directly. Unlike physical functions that could be objectively observed and measured, the mind was seen as subjective and difficult to quantify.
Another reason was the belief that much of human behavior and mental processes were genetically determined. Psychologists at that time, influenced by fields like biology and genetics, believed that behaviors and characteristics were inherited. Therefore, they focused more on studying heredity and trying to understand how genes influenced behavior rather than exploring the workings of the mind.
In addition, early psychologists also believed that the mind was largely unconscious. Influenced by the theories of Sigmund Freud, who proposed the existence of unconscious drives and desires, psychologists believed that many thoughts and motivations were hidden from conscious awareness. This made it challenging to study the mind directly.
Moreover, the mind was considered unobservable. Early psychologists relied on observable behaviors in order to study and analyze psychological phenomena. They believed that behavior could provide insights into the workings of the mind, as it was the only aspect that could be objectively observed and measured.
Lastly, early psychologists also placed significant emphasis on the role of the environment in shaping human behavior. They believed that external factors, such as social and cultural influences, played a crucial role in determining human behavior. Consequently, they focused more on studying behavior in relation to the environment rather than studying the mind itself.
Overall, the complexities of the mind, its genetic and unconscious determinants, the lack of observable aspects, and the emphasis on environmental factors all contributed to the early psychologists' decision to not primarily focus on the study of "the mind."