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26 U1 AOS 1: WhAt iS pSychOlOgy?

04: pSeUdO-Science And pSychOlOgy

→Activity 1: PoPulAr Pseudo-sciences

Complete the following table on different pseudo-sciences.

Pseudo-science Period originated Main beliefs

Palmistry

Phrenology

Astrology

Numerology

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04_EDW_OP12_WB2_87654_TXT_UB1.indd 26 04/12/13 2:17 PM

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ch 04: pSeUdO-Science And pSychOlOgy 27

→Activity 2: Pseudo-sciences

Name the pseudo-science that is being referred to in each scenario in the table below and tick the group to which it belongs.

• Group 1 pseudo-sciences: provide explanations for personality and behavioural traits to predict future events.

• Group 2 pseudo-sciences: provide explanations for personality and behavioural traits to diagnose mental and physical conditions.

• Group 3 pseudo-sciences: try to provide explanations for physical and psychological phenomena.

scenario naMe of Pseudo-science grouP 1 grouP 2 grouP 3

Example: John had his cards read to determine his future.

Tarot card reading ✓

Susan went to get her psychological problems resolved by using an E-meter.

James met a guy on the weekend who claimed to have seen spaceships and aliens.

Trish was given a medical diagnosis from having her irises examined.

Bernard showed his palm to a woman so she could tell him about his future.

Anthony saw a show where an entertainer moved objects with his mind.

Katia’s personality was assessed by looking at the lumps and bumps on her head.

Ryan held crystals to help him heal.

Tony believes he has been abducted by aliens.

Tena described a client’s temperament and character just by looking at her facial appearance.


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→Activity 3: reseArch Activity

1 Read the statements below and tick whether you believe or do not believe them. Try to answer each statement honestly.

scenario believe do not believe

Astrology is scientific.

Ghosts are real.

Witches are real.

Aliens have visited our planet.

It is a good idea to knock on wood to ward off bad luck.

Walking under a ladder will bring bad luck.

Breaking a mirror will bring bad luck.

Opening an umbrella indoors will bring bad luck.

2 Collate your data with the rest of the class and fill in the table below.

scenario nuMber that believe Percentage of resPondents who believe

Male feMale

Astrology is scientific.

Ghosts are real.

Witches are real.

Aliens have visited our planet.

It is a good idea to knock on wood to ward off bad luck.

Walking under a ladder will bring bad luck.

Breaking a mirror will bring bad luck.

Opening an umbrella indoors will bring bad luck.

TOTAL RESPONDENTS:


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3 Draw a graph of the class results.

4 a Were there gender differences? Explain.

b What might have affected your results?

5 A finding from a recent poll conducted on American adults has revealed their beliefs. Look at the tables on page 30 and answer the following questions.

a How do your findings compare with the tables on page 30?

b What can you conclude about the American public’s perception of pseudo-sciences and/or superstitions?


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table 1 Beliefs of American males and females

belief total (%) Males (%) feMales (%)

Astrology 25 19 30

UFOs 34 38 31

Witches 28 30 27

Ghosts 40 33 46

table 2 Americans’ beliefs in superstitions

suPerstition % total

Walking under a ladder 12

Breaking a mirror 11

Black cats crossing paths 13

Number 13 9

Knocking on wood 25

reseArch study one

C.R. Snyder and R.J. Shenkel conducted a study of astrology among college students. Each student received exactly the same loosely worded

horoscope about themselves. All the students reported that the horoscopes were accurate descriptions of themselves.

reseArch study two

Psychologist Peter Glick conducted a similar study on students, but he divided the students into sceptics and believers. Students were given horoscopes that they believed were all different. In reality, however, there was only one positively worded horoscope and

one negatively worded horoscope. Students reported that the horoscopes were very accurate when the information was positive. When given the negative horoscope, students in the believers group did not have confidence in it.

reseArch study three

N.D. Sunberg (1955) conducted a study where students took the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), a personality test. The results of the test were interpreted and personality outlines were created. Students were then provided with two personality outlines—a

real one and a fake one—and were asked to pick the outline that accurately reflected their personality. It was found that 59 per cent of the students reported the fake personality outline was an accurate description of their personality.

→Activity 4: BArnum effect

Using your textbook and the articles below, answer the questions opposite.


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1 Explain the Barnum effect.

2 Which psychologist first described the Barnum effect? When?

3 Outline this psychologist’s research and findings.

4 Briefly outline the method used in each study.

5 Compare these studies to the findings of Forer’s research.

6 What can be concluded from these research studies?


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→Activity 5: true or fAlse?

Read the statements below and identify whether they are true or false.

1 All procedures and data collected in psychological research are made available to other researchers so they can repeat the experiment having the same experimental conditions.

2 Pseudo-sciences are systems and methods that try to explain human behaviour in non-scientific ways.

3 Palmistry is a true science, not a pseudo-science.

4 A sign of a pseudo-science is that it is not open to having its claims tested by experts using conventional scientific methods.

5 Scientology is not a pseudo-science.

6 Pseudo-sciences only select and use the facts that support their beliefs.

7 Palmists do not think the shape of the hand has anything to do with palmistry.

8 There is no scientific evidence that verifies pseudo-sciences, yet still they remain popular.

9 Personality descriptions and predictions about the future are usually vague and generalised.

10 A report conducted in 2001 found that 80 per cent of people believe in astrology.

11 The Barnum effect was named after an American showman and circus owner.

12 Today, phrenology is a legitimate science.

13 A psychograph measures brainwave activities.

14 Astrology is based on the idea that the planets, space and NASA all have an effect on an individual’s personality.

15 Numerology determines a person’s personality and predicts their future by using their name and date of birth.


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The Pseudo-scientific Method

Develop hang-up (emotional, religious

or intellectual)

Rephrase hang-up as

pseudo-scientific theory

Can you find supporting evidence?

Create justification

Create a strawman

argument to refute findings

Repeat experiment with poorer precision

Does the experiment ‘prove’ hypothesis of

hang-up?

Can you design an experiment which appears to test the

hang-up?

Can you find data which can be

distorted to seem supportive?

Publish

Distort data

Press conference

no

no

no

no

yes

yes

yes

yes


→Activity 6: oPinions of Pseudo-sciences

Look at the cartoon and the diagram. In each case, what opinion seems to be expressed about pseudo-sciences?

Horoscopes have made me very wealthy—I write them!


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→Activity 7: multiPle-choice questions

1 Scientology was developed by:

a Ivan Pavlov

b Science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard

c Greek philosophers

d Charles Darwin

2 Astrology is not considered a science because:

a It does not use an E-meter.

b It cannot verify its claims of aliens inhabiting the earth.

c It cannot verify its predictions and claims using scientific methods.

d It focuses on the study of planets, not people.

3 Pseudo-science is often called:

a a true science

b a true study of humankind

c a fake or false science

d none of the above

4 Palmistry involves a close examination of:

a the lines on the palms and the shapes of the hand

b the eye’s iris

c a person’s date of birth

d a person’s pressure points

5 Franz Joseph Gall developed phrenology and believed that personality was controlled by 27 different , which were located on the of the brain.

a finger gestures; tip

b nerve endings; inside

c alien beings; centre

d brain organs; surface

6 Phrenology uses a to measure the lumps and bumps on the

.

a EEG; brain

b psychograph; head

c number; head

d E-meter; brain

7 Numerologists believe that your date of birth can indicate your character and your:

a faith

b destiny

c needs

d past

8 According to psychologists, doctors and other scientists, pseudo-science is dangerous because:

a It spreads incorrect information based on flawed theories.

b It spreads theories and myths about science.

c It uses medical procedures to make predictions.

d It relies heavily on scientific journals.

9 Scientology’s rejection of psychology and psychiatry is dangerous because:

a It refuses to use a dianetic technique.

b It attempts to discover aliens.

c It refuses to allow patients to use conventional or necessary medication for disorders.

d It prescribes medication to all people.

10 In scientology, an E-meter is used to get rid of:

a all aliens

b the reactive mind

c all positive memories

d all thoughts


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