Lectures 1, 2, 31. What Is Psychology?

2. A History3. Research Methods

Learning Outcomes

• Define psychology.

• Describe the various fields and subfields of psychology.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the origins of psychology and identify those who made significant contributions to the field.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe modern approaches to research and practice – critical thinking, the scientific method, and ethical considerations.

1.Truth or Fiction? Popular Psychology Knowledge

Most people use only about 10% of their brain capacity

All people w/dyslexia see words backward (tac-cat)In general, it’s better to express anger that to hold

it in.The lie detector (polygraph) test is 90-95 %

accurate at detecting falsehoods.

2.Truth or Fiction?

People tend to be romantically attracted to individuals who are opposite to them in personality and attitude

The more people present at an emergency, the more likely it is that at least one of them will help.

All effective psychotherapies require clients to get the root of their problems in childhood

3.Can we always trust our Common Sense?

Birds of a feather flock together

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Two heads are better than one

Action speak louder than words

Opposite attract

Out of sight, out of mind

Too many cooks spoil the broth

The pen is mightier that the sword

Psychology as a Science

4. What is Psychology?

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes .

• Psychology Is an Empirical Science: Psychological science relies on empirical evidence as a way of knowing about how we think, feel, and behave

5. What is a Theory?

• A theory is a general set of principles proposed to explain how a number of separate facts are related (map reading example)

• A theory allows you to– propose reasons for relationships– derive explanations – make predictions

6. Goals of Psychology

• Psychology seeks to– describe– explain– predict, and– influence behavior and mental processes

What Psychologists Do

7. What Do Psychologists Do?

• Research– Pure research, or basic– Applied research

• Practice (clinical, counseling)• Teaching

8. Fields of Psychology

• Clinical• Counseling• School • Educational• Developmental • Personality• Social• Environmental

• Experimental• Industrial

– Organizational– Human Factors– Consumer

• Health• Sport• Forensic

Where Psychology Comes From: A History

Lecture 2.

1. Ancient Contributors to Psychology

• Greek- Aristotle & Plato; Hippocrates,• Roman- Galen• Socrates

– Introspection• China- Confucius (551-479)• Muslim scholars- Al Kindi (801-866)

- Al- Tabari (838-870)

2. Psychology as a Laboratory Science

• John Stuart Mill -- A System of Logic

(1843)• Wilhelm Wundt –founded

modern experimental psychology– First psychology

laboratory (1879)

3. Experimental Psychology begins with Structuralism

• Edward Titchener, Wundt’s student• Structuralism breaks conscious experiences into

– objective sensations (sight or taste), and– subjective feelings (emotions, memories,

dreams)• Mind functions by combining objective and

subjective elements of experience

4. Functionalism

• William James• Functionalism focused on behavior in addition to

mind and consciousness• Used direct observations to supplement

introspection• Influenced by Darwin’s theory of evolution or

natural selection

5. Behaviorism

• John Broadus Watson • Behaviorism focuses on learning observable

(measurable) behavior• B.F. Skinner

– Learned behavior is behavior that is reinforced– Beyond Freedom and Dignity (1971)

6. Gestalt Psychology• Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler (1920s)• Gestalt focused on perception and its influence

on thinking and problem solving– Perception are more than sum of their parts– Active and purposeful– Insight learning

6. Gestalt Psychology• Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler• Gestalt focused on perception and its influence

on thinking and problem solving– Perception are more than sum of their parts– Active and purposeful– Insight learning

The Importance of Context

Some Insight Into Insight

10. Psychoanalysis

• Sigmund Freud• Psychoanalysis

– Influence of unconscious motives and conflicts

– Theory of personality– Therapy

11. Cognition Affects Behavior

• Tolman- animals could learn by observation (behavioral approach could not make sense any more)

• Research on memory• 1957- George Miller launched the cognitive

revolution in psychology. • Ulric Neisser - Cognitive Psychology (1967)• C. Ps. is concerned with higher-order mental

functions such as intelligence, thinking, language, memory, and decision making

• Computers-information processing theories

How Psychologists Study Behavior and Mental

ProcessesResearch Methods

Lecture 3

12. Principles of Critical Thinking

• Be skeptical• Insist on evidence (sugar study) (Wolraich, Wilson, and White 1995).

• Examine definitions of terms• Examine the assumptions or premises of

arguments (example of Mozart effect)

• Be cautious in drawing conclusions from evidence

13. Principles of Critical Thinking (continued)

• Consider alternative interpretations of research evidence

• Do not oversimplify• Do not overgeneralize• Apply critical thinking to all areas of life

14. The Scientific Methodsystematic procedure of observing and measuring phenomena to answer questions about What

happens, When it happens, What causes it, and Why?

• Formulate a research question • State the hypothesis (People who report poorer self-images also score higher

on a depression scale).

• Test the hypothesis ( respond to statements: “I’m fun to be with, or I have good ideas’

• Draw conclusions based on findings • Publish research• Replicate study

15. Scientific Method

16. Samples and Populations

• Sample (Mozart study-college students)

– Segment of population• Population

– Entire group targeted for study• Representative samples allow generalization of

findings (when can we generalize?)

17. Random and Stratified Sampling

• Random sample– Each member of population has equal chance of

selection• Stratified sample

– Subgroups are represented proportionally• Volunteer bias

– Bias represented by studying people who volunteer to participate

18. Methods of Observation

• Case Study– Gather information about individuals or small

groups– Sometimes used to investigate rarities

• Survey– Used to collect information that cannot be

observed directly

19. Methods of Observation

• Naturalistic Observation– Observe subjects in their natural environment– Unobtrusive measure– Observers bias– Limitations: No cause-effect & wait for event to

occur• Laboratory Observation

20. Correlational Method

• Mathematical method of determining a relationship between variables

• Correlation coefficient– Number between +1.00 and –1.00 – Indicates strength and direction of relationship

between variables• Does not prove cause and effect (example)

21. Positive and Negative Correlations

22. Experimental Method

• Demonstrates cause and effect through scientific method– Independent variable (IV) (treatment) -

manipulated– Dependent variable (DV) (outcomes)- measure

of assumed effect of the IV– Lang Study (1975)– Group 1. Expected alcohol, received only tonic– Group 2. Expected alcohol, received alcohol mixed w/tonic– Group 3 . Expected tonic, received alcohol mixed w/tonic– Group 4. Expected tonic , received only tonic

23.Experimental Method

• Experimental groups, those that received treatment (alcohol), and expected alcohol, received tonic (3 groups)

• Control groups, expected tonic, received tonic

• Placebos , expected alcohol, but received tonic, expected tonic, but received alcohol

• Blind (all groups)

• Double-blind study (when neither researcher nor participants do not know who received treatment)

24. Experimental Conditions in the Lang Study

25. Ethics of Research with Humans

• Ethical review committee and ethical standards – Promote individual dignity, human welfare and

scientific integrity– Ensure no harm will come to subjects

• Informed consent• Confidentiality• Deception • Debriefing

26. Ethics of Research with Animals

• Animals are used when research cannot be carried out with humans

• Animals may be harmed, when– there is no alternative, and– benefits of the research justify the harm

Video Connections: Facial Analysis -The Scientific Method in Action

• What might be some real-world applications of facial applications?

• Explain why facial analysis might be a more objective measure of emotions than our own perceptions?

• Explain why the use of computers can be so important in research.

PLAYVIDEO

Facial Analysis