What is 'Psychology'?

[learning]

hi, I have always assumed that 'psychology' was the study of the 'mind' but apparently, the Greek term for 'psych' acutally means 'soul.'

What are the different schools of psychology, and which seem to be closest to Biblical things?

I understand that some are against some psychology things because they were based on men who didn't believe in God. But, I also believe that the Bible speaks of loving God with all of our 'mind' and 'renewing the mind' so I don't think psychology, in and of itself, the study of the mind, is necessarily wrong. Just perhaps how we go about trying to improve or 'heal' it might be off at times, and we know this from just the different groups and ideas that have come out of psychology. (In other words, those within psychology may disagree with the best method of helping someone or explanation of why the mind-person does something and could change for the better. This is just within psychology itself, not necessarily related to the Christian faith.)

[Jedidiah]

hi, I have always assumed that 'psychology' was the study of the 'mind' but apparently, the Greek term for 'psych' acutally means 'soul.' Psych (ψυχή) literally means breath. It is used in several ways, one use is tranlated as mind.

beeman

[theseed]

hi, I have always assumed that 'psychology' was the study of the 'mind' but apparently, the Greek term for 'psych' acutally means 'soul.'
Yes, psyche does mean soul. Psychology is generally the study of human behavior (human psychology).

What are the different schools of psychology, and which seem to be closest to Biblical things?
No school matches the philosphy of God's word--that we are all sinners. Freud has many biblical elements in his theory. So does Albert Ellis' Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Both Freud and the Apostle Paul wer influenced by Plato's triparate soul. In fact, Paul is in my history and systems of Psychology book. Paul that Christians have a mind, spirit, and flesh; these corrospond to Freud's ego, superego, and id. Freud believed that people were basically evil and could improve little (determinism). See Romans 8 (Or 6-8).

The bible tells us that we must take every thought captive and make it obediant for Christ. REBT says that out thoughts determine our feelings which determines our behavior, and by elimating our irrational thoughts, we improve our mood. The goal is usualy not to go from depression to happiness but being less depressed or even feel neatral. After, all it is logical to feel depressed about certain things, but it usually not logical to make a castrophe of it.

[theseed]

Schools of counseling pychology

Psychoanalysis -Freud
Transactional Analyssi-Berne
Person-centered counseling-Rogers
Cognitive behavior schools (eg. REBT-Ellis, Cognitive information Processing [CIP]).
Reality Therapy(Glassar
Individual Psychology (Alfred Adler).
Solution Focused Brief Counseling (more broadly Brief Counseling).
Art therapy/counseling (Freudian)
Play therapy/counseling (Freudian)


There are many family theories as well. I may think of some more later.

[learning]

thanks, I've heard of a few, but not all of them.

[kofh2u]

hi, I have always assumed that 'psychology' was the study of the 'mind' but apparently, the Greek term for 'psych' acutally means 'soul.'

What are the different schools of psychology, and which seem to be closest to Biblical things?

I understand that some are against some psychology things because they were based on men who didn't believe in God. But, I also believe that the Bible speaks of loving God with all of our 'mind' and 'renewing the mind' so I don't think psychology, in and of itself, the study of the mind, is necessarily wrong. Just perhaps how we go about trying to improve or 'heal' it might be off at times, and we know this from just the different groups and ideas that have come out of psychology. (In other words, those within psychology may disagree with the best method of helping someone or explanation of why the mind-person does something and could change for the better. This is just within psychology itself, not necessarily related to the Christian faith.)


Hi learning,
You sure are a breathe of fresh air.

1) Soul, 16th Century English for Lain Bible translation of "Anima," mind, Hebrew translation for "nesphesh," also mind, and the Greek, "psyke'.

2) "Could a Bible which recommends behavioral changes, those types of readjustments directly related to attitudinal self- evaluations actually be in the same discipline as Modern Psychology," you ask?

Great... greatest question ever asked.

If we are born wrong minded, sinful by nature, if a Free Will infers the autonomy of thinking before acting, what ELSE could the scriptures be about?

You continue with the sincerity of questioning, "What are the different schools of psychology, and which seem to be closest to Biblical things?"

My answer is this. Abraham Maslow 's investigation began with the premise that he would study sane people. He hoped to find positive qualitities in people and reflect on both what those qualities were and how to recognize and strive to emulate such behavior. His Theories of the Self Actualized Person are an uncanny parallel to the teachings of Christ:

1Cor. 13:4 (Altruism), charity, suffereth long (IN MEDITATIONS), and is kind (IN ITS ACCEPTANCE OF SELF AND OTHERS); charity, (Altruism), envieth not (BY (RESISTING ENCULTURATION; charity, (Altruism), vaunteth not itself (BUT IS COMPASSIONATE), is not puffed up (BUT IS NATURAL, SPONTANEOUS AND SIMPLE),

1Cor. 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly (BUT IS CREATIVE), seeketh not her own (IN A MORE EFFICIENT VIEW OF REALITY), is not easily provoked (IT HAS A
BIG BROTHER ATTITUDE), thinketh not evil (BUT DISCRIMINATES BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL);

1Cor. 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity (BUT IS UNHOSTILE AND OPEN-MINDED IN HUMOR), but rejoiceth in the truth (THAT IS PROBLEM CENTERED);

1Cor. 13:7 Beareth all things (IN A DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE), believeth all things (AS REGARDS THE PEAK MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE), hopeth all things (THROUGH SELF-CENTERED AUTONOMY), endureth all things (IN A CONTINUED FRESHNESS OF APPRECIATION).

1Cor. 13:8 Charity, (by which is meant Altruism), never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, (human predictions), they shall fail; whether there be tongues (as evidence of our inner subconscious psyche), they shall cease (as we come to realize that the source is pyschological); whether there be knowledge (as understood at this time), it shall vanish away.

1Cor. 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1Cor. 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come,... (Rev. 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars, (the sevenfold spirit of the psyche: Id, Libido, Ego, Anima, Self, Harmony, Superego),... then that which is in part shall be done away.

1Cor. 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, (IMAGINATIVELY), I understood as a child (IN THE SENSORI-MOTOR STAGE OF LEARNING), I thought as a child (IN THE EARLY PIAGET STAGE OF (PRECOGNITIVE THOUGHT): but when I became a man, (I HAD LEARNED CONCRETE AND FORMAL WAYS OF UNDERSTANDING), I put away childish things.

1Cor. 13:12 For now we see through a glass (COUCHED IN
SEMI-CONSCIOUSNESS), darkly (WE PERCEIVE OUR SEVEN FOLD PSYCHE); but then, (IN THE DAY OF TOTAL CONSCIOUSNESS), face to face, (CONSCIOUSNESS
AND UNCONSCIOUSNESS): now I know (MY MIND) in part; but then shall I know (TOTALLY) even as also I am known (IN A COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS TO COME).

1Cor. 13:13 And now abideth faith (BY SELF ESTEEM, NOT SELFISHNESS), hope (THROUGH
AUTONOMY OF FREE WILL CHOICE), charity (IN ALTRUISM), these three; but the greatest of these is charity, (ALTRUISM).

Abraham Maslow's 15 Characteristics of a Sane Person are compared here with 1Co13:4-9;13)

Verses 13:10-12 are augmented by Jean Piaget insights from "Learning Theory."

Maslow's recognized that basic behavioral motivations are tied to seven Human Needs.
Below, St Paul seems to be on the same basic wave length:

1Cor. 13:1 Though I speak with the (secularly wise) tongues of men and of (spiritual wisdom of) angels, (FULFILLING MY NEED TO KNOW), and have not (Altruism), charity, (I AM NOT SANE), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

1Cor. 13:2 And though (among Christian friends) I have the gift of prophecy, (SECURING MY NEED TO BELONG), and understand all (biblical) mysteries (IN MY NEED TO RELATE PHYSIOLOGICALLY WITH MY SOCIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT), and all (current) knowledge, (FULFILLING MY NEED FOR KNOWLEDGE); and though I (claim to) have all faith (IN MY NEED FOR [Christian] ESTEEM), so that I could remove mountains, and have not (Altruism), charity, I am nothing, (INSANE).

1Cor. 13:3 And though I (wisely) bestow all my goods (in hope of social calm and order in economic distribution) to feed the poor, (FOR I, TOO, NEED SAFETY), and though I give my body to be burned (FOR I NEED TO SELF-ACTUALIZE), and have not (Altruism), charity, it profiteth me nothing.

[pljames]

Psychology(science) to me means the study of the mind. Metaphysics(philosophy) means to me the study of the creation or creator of the mind. There is the secular mind and there is the theological mind. Both can be studies by both philosophies, but when entertwining two oppisite philosophies could there be contridictions od perspective beliefs of personal beliefs?
pljames

[pljames]

:ahem: Psychology(science) to me is secular whereas metaphysics is philosophic.

When you cross these two discipline there is a lot of room for perceptive points of view. Is there a deeper (philosphical) meaning for Psychology?
pljames