If psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behavior, and physiology is the study of biological functions, why do we need to study physiology?

-- Danielle Jackson (Mommy6shooter@hotmail.com), September 14, 2002

Answers

(1) Because presumably psychological functions are, at least to some degree, a product of physiological functions -- no brain, no mind. (2) Because the natural science which early psychologists most admired and attempted to emulate was physiology (note, Wundt called his new field of study "physiological psychology"). So, if one wants to know why psychology turned out the way it did, it might be worthwhile to find out what psychology was attempting to become.

-- Christopher Green (christo@yorku.ca), September 14, 2002.