The Theory Of Belief And Its Effect On Human Psychology

The concept of belief without evidence such as faith based ideologies and certain religiosities are a commonplace in the human experience. These types of belief systems, like any large scale life conviction, can impact human psychology. It would seem that beliefs in general can affect human behavior, perception, cognitive function and in turn, possibly the brain itself. For the purposes of clarity, (as the term ‘religious belief’ can have a rather broad definition and the term ‘belief without evidence’ is questionable) this paper will often use the term ‘faith based belief’ to reference these ideas. Studies on this issue, due to differences in scope, have yielded a wide variety of results. One might be able to make assumptions regarding the general impact of a certain belief. Such as the assumption that an individual’s belief in a loving and caring god might positively influence this person’s wellbeing. However, many of the finding s derived from the results of these studies are less unequivocal. Faith based beliefs can foster both positive and negative consequences in regards to human psychology. Functional magnetic resonance imaging is often used in relevant studies involving these belief systems in order to observe the areas of the brain that are affected. The basis of faith based belief systems is an important issue in psychology and other fields. Kapogiannis et al. (2009) explains how the nature of these beliefs in respect to biology is a point of controversy andShow MoreRelatedSocial Psychology: The Study of Influences Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pagestrying to understand criminal behavior, â€Å"why† has always been a question that has been explored. Psychology, or the study of â€Å"why†, has been attempting to answer such questions for centuries. Although there are many answers (reflected in the number of schools of psychology), Social psychology attempts to explain the environmental factors that lead to a person behavior. By definition, Social Psycho logy is â€Å"the study of the manner in which the personality, attitudes, motivations, and behavior of theRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Mind And The Body1646 Words   |  7 PagesPhilosophy of mind had come across when philosophers had an idea of the concepts regarding the human mind and its mysteries. This branch of psychology had intended to elaborate and study the nature and aspects of the human mind, also how these concepts such as mental events, mental functions and consciousness would connect to each other, through the human brain and body. Philosophy of mind became one of the central areas of philosophy as the skills and abilities of metalizing are used to treat individualsRead MoreSocial Psychology And Its Impact On Individual Behavior1262 Words   |  6 PagesSocial psychology has evolved through history and its developments and contributions have been remarkable. This specialized area of psychology studies various topics that are significant for human beings (Ross, Lepper , Ward, 2010). This paper presents with an overview of social psychology by addressing its central themes, strengths, limitations, relevance, and the significance of cultural considerations. Central themes Three central themes are apparent in social psychology research. These themesRead MoreThe Psychological Effects Of Conspiracy Theories1166 Words   |  5 Pagesknown as conspiracy theories. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the official definition of conspiracy theory   is â€Å"a theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators.† These theories can range from minor events, to large scale terrorist attacks. A few well known theories include, Bill Clinton caused 9/11, the Earth is flat, and a reptilian race is planning to take over the Earth. Conspiracy theories can inflict variousRead MoreShould Psychology Be Considered As A Science?1353 Words   |  6 Pageswhether Psychology can be regarded as a ‘science’. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Psychology (Coleman, 2009) Psychology can be defined as the ‘scientific study of human behaviour and cognitive processes.’ S cience is generally defined as the ‘systematic way or method of obtaining knowledge’ (Merriam-Webster, 2008). When we think of science, we think of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Psychology is often thought of as just ‘common sense’, however many of the perspectives in Psychology such asRead MoreThe Question in the Origins of Psychology is What Drives Us and Why722 Words   |  3 Pagesthe humans around us has been studied by many great historical scholars such as Aristotle and Descartes. Scholars like these would ask psychological questions about what drives us and why. It was not until the late nineteenth century that psychological research was considered as its own scientific discipline. Psychology began in 1879 when a man named Wilhelm Wundt set up a psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany. This laboratory would be considered the birth place of experimental psychology. WithinRead MoreHuman Behavior And The Functions Of Humans1632 Words   |  7 PagesToday, we use psychology to study human behavior and the functions of humans. We incorporate science to help us test possible theories and proceed with experiments that could help bring answers to society. The biggest thing with Science is that theories and hypotheses must be falsifiable and replicable. Science must have terms that can be universally used and understood by everyone. Descartes, James, Freud and Skinner all had trouble grasping that idea. Flanagan goes into detail about these famousRead MoreCommon Criticisms in Psychology Paper1486 Words   |  6 PagesCommon Criticisms in Psychology Paper University of Phoenix August 9, 2009 Common Criticisms in Psychology Paper The artificiality of inventive conditions in experimental environments is a repeated concern. How real can laboratory-based research be? This paper will explain the criticism of artificiality in the discipline of psychology and apply this criticism to at least three sub disciplines within psychology. This paper will also compare and contrast the breakthrough model of scientificRead MoreCognitive Psychology And The Management And Treatment Of Mental Illness1352 Words   |  6 Pageswould be applied to the management and treatment of mental illness. Also I will explain the theories of two psychologist highlighting their strengths and weaknesses and there similarities and differences. AC1.1, AC3.1 Biological psychology looks at the biological aspects of behaviour. It looks at how the brain s structure, chemistry, activity and genetic make-up etc. relates to behaviour. Cognitive psychology focuses on the way the brain processes information, how people perceive, understand, makeRead MoreCarl Jung and Sigmund Freud1412 Words   |  6 Pageswere two individuals whose theories on human personality would completely affect the way that people viewed the human mind. Carl Gustav was a practicing psychotherapist while Sigmund Freud created the discipline of psychoanalysis. The two men had seemingly identical beliefs about human behavior, but also had contrasting beliefs about concepts such as the ego, the psyche, and the state of unconsciousness. Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud’s Theories Sigmund Freud’s beliefs about personality were based