History of Consciousness

• At first, psychologist William James thought that only the initial act was conscious, thereafter behaviour was a spontaneous cascade of habits. He suggested we struggle with motivation when there are competing ideas.
• Sigmund Freud theorised that we are largely unconscious of what d...

Psychology was not separate from philosophy until the late 1800s.

• During the 17th century, philosopher Rene Descartes introduced the idea of dualism - that the mind and body were two entities that interact to complete the human experience.
• While early philosophers relied on ...

• Excessive dancing, meditation, and mind-altering plants were used in ancient civilizations to modulate the activity of the mind.
• In 1892, the term "altered states of consciousness" was used to refer to hypnosis.
• William James introduced the scientific investigation of myst...