A CHECKLIST TO DEFINE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES/ UNA LISTA DE CONTROL PARA DEFINIR LOS PROCESOS PSICOLÓGICOS/ UM CHECK-LIST PARA DEFINIR OS PROCESSOS PSICOLÓGICOS

• Main Author: Ricardo Tamayo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia 2011-12-01
• Series: Revista Colombiana de Psicología
• Subjects: Aristotle; psychological processes; definition; material cause; efficient cause; formal cause; final cause; neuroscience; Aristóteles; procesos psicológicos; definición; causa material; causa eficiente; causa formal; causa final; neurociencia; processos psicológicos; definição; causa eficaz; neurociência
• Online Access: http://www.revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/psicologia/article/viewFile/26835/27137
• ISSN: 0121-5469

This essay explores a conceptual definition of psychological processes. Previous researchers from the fields of psychology and neuroscience have noted that improving the definition of psychological processes may be extremely useful to help current efforts to map the neurobiological basis of psychological phenomena. In this essay I suggest a conceptual path in which psychological processes might be characterized by their material, efficient, formal, and final causes. I briefly explore the potential use of this way of defining psychological processes for neuroscience and psychology, and also comment on the effect it may have for the traditional distinction between basic and higher-order processes.