Conclusion 

 

Mainly, three trends in psychology may be traced to Descartes. First, psychology as an

introspective science investigating human consciousness finds support in the validity of the

first principle of the mind espoused by Descartes.

Second, psychology as a purely behavioral study is reinforced, although somewhat indirectly,

by Cartesian dualism; that is, the interaction between mind and body indicates that overt,

observable behavior is meaningful. Such activity reflects the mind, as the mind acts on the

body, producing behavior.

Finally, psychology as a physiological science is supported by Descartes’ assertion that all

human activities except thinking and feeling are related to bodily physiology and maybe

understood as truly psychophysiological.