Question

Compare and contrast “a unitary view of the mind” and “ a modular view of the mind”. Please provide examples

Answer 1

Aristotle assumed without empirical evidence that human mind is a single, monolithic unified system and it was considered so for a very long untill later after two millennia when for all practical purposes it was assumed by Western world that it was not a unitary model but it had many parts and function.

We have quiet a lot of scientific evidences that state and prove that human brain is modular and each module/part has it's significant role and function to be carried out.it can be depicted as Each part is operated by switches and there is one main switch controlling all other small switches. So a particular combination of swicthes are to be switched on at a time for a particular function to be carried out. So brain is a modular system, similarly is our mind.

As we know brain has it's complex structure with lobes,cortex,thalamus, cerebellum,neurons etc also cells have their own regulatory system similarly mind has a complex modular stucture and it's own regulatory system in the form of ego.

To make it simple for example think of your own self which is made of

1.adult - symbolises rational reasoning ,logic,analytical

2.nurturing parent - comforting and growth promoting

3. Critical parent - controlling

4.free child- spontaneous,creative,playful

5.adapted child - devious

If we see the modular stucture of our mind it's the same , superego is the adult and nurturing parent , ego is the critical parent and Id is the free child.

To understand better let me put forward an example while dressing one morning and looking in the mirror your critical parent that is ego sees body to be fat and finds it to be unattractive,adult that is your superego kicks in and decides to go on a diet to loose weight. After you loose weight and it becomes a bit boring the child in you comes up that is your Id and pushes you to eat sweets and junk which is again analysed by your ego and this goes on.

Thus example very well highlight the modular view of mind.