Fundamentals of psychology - Mihai Anitei

In the specialized literature of our country, the phrase "fundamentals of psychology" gradually slowed down, which, in previous years, was called general psychology. Then a separation of personality psychology from this framework was found. Various theorizations have been tried to justify one variant or another. It is certain that the volume of information has grown exponentially and any attempt to write the foundations of psychology or general psychology or whatever it is called, runs into major difficulties. First of all, it is necessary to select, organize and systematize the material according to well-established criteria and then "fill" this frame.
The truth is that this book was born as I developed the course on Fundamentals of Psychology (Cognitive Psychic Mechanisms) and Fundamentals of Psychology (Psychology of Stimulation and Regulation of Behavior). However, I gave up the order of the chapters in the course because I thought that this order was more logical. Thus, as was normal, I attached the chapter on attention immediately after the sensory-perceptive processes and before those of secondary processing of information (representation and thinking) due to the obvious relations of attention with this area of ​​psychic life. Then I placed communication and language immediately after thinking, also due to the real presence of language in the area of ​​cognitive processing of information. I left the will to the end because, in my opinion, it connects with the personality and is deeply involved in its structure.
If some chapters have a classic configuration and I am referring here to sensation, perception, representation, thinking, memory, imagination, other chapters, such as communication and language, motivation, affectivity, will bring a new presentation formula, new contents, what it brings them closer to current perspectives and makes them more attractive. I have in mind aspects such as: the motivation of personal action, the model of the four motivational-affective systems, robots and emotions or the relationship between will and free will. Of course, the other chapters also present updated information in relation to the latest models of approach in psychology.
Returning to the beginning of the book, the introductory chapter "Psychology as a science" proposes a different and more accessible approach to students. I avoided doing the philosophy of psychology because it is an arid issue that can be accessed and understood later than in the first year of college. I tried to present a new perspective of approaching psychology through which to argue its position as an autonomous science. I consider unproductive and out-of-date the debates in which we ask whether psychology is or is not a science. Things have been clarified and today no one questions rhetorically about this aspect.
Maybe it would be a terminological problem related to the process, mechanism, function, activity dispute. We appreciate that cognitive psychology has imposed the term processing, of "treating" information and, of course, we can also talk about "mechanisms" without making a mistake. Anyway, these disputes are, from a point on, sterile, because attention ends up being defined as a psychic "phenomenon", which is already far too vague. In the end, these labels are less important; it is important for the student to understand - from the content - the specifics of the psycho-behavioral manifestations discussed.
The chapter on the organization of psychic life offers a more modern perspective - especially as regards consciousness. The ground gained by the transpersonal, quantum view of states of consciousness deserves special attention.
Thus, the book offers openings towards various horizons of current psychology, without ignoring the contribution of the great personalities of Romanian psychology who marked this field and who were my teachers and predecessors: Paul-Popescu Neveanu, Mielu Zlate and Mihai Golu. I bring them this way my offering of gratitude.
In conclusion, I will mention the people without whom I could not have completed this book and to whom I present my deep appreciation and thanks: Ion Bucur, Elena Buzea, Mihaela Chraif, Cătălina Cicei, Andreea Dîrzu, Bogdana Humă, Ioana Iftime, Andreea Măţăuan, Sandra Spighel, Elena Stoica and Alexandru Vochiţă.


author
Bucharest,
April 23, 2010