Psychology
PSYCH
Chapter One: Psychology and Scientific Thinking
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior.
As a discipline, psychology spans many levels of analysis.
Biological social influences
Attachment
Need to examine ALL of them: genetic/neurochemical/physiological and mental/behavioral/social level
Depression at differing levels of Explanation
Molecular level>Neurochemical>Neurological/physiological>Mental>Behavioral>Social
Challenging and Fascinating 1.1 Explain why common sense isn’t always wrong
5 difficulties:
Human behavior difficult to predict – many causes
These causes influence one another
Individual differences in thinking, emotion, and personality
We influence one another – reciprocal determinism
Behavior shaped by culture – Emic (culture from inside) vs. etic (culture from outside)
Naïve Realism
Belief see world precisely as is – “seeing is believing”
Example: which table is longer (optical illusion). Point of it is, we need to look further.
When Common Sense is Right
Not all common sense is wrong
Can serve as generator of hypothesis
Test the hypothesis!
Psychology as a Science 1.2 explain the importance of science as a set of safeguards against biases
Science
Not a body of knowledge
Is an approach to empiricism*
Tests observations using rigorous methods
Is an approach to evidence
Theories and Hypothesis
A scientific theory: explanation for a large number of findings
A hypothesis: Is a specific prediction based on a theory, and can then be tested.
Science as a Safeguard against Bias
Confirmation bias
Tendency to seek out evidence that supports our hypothesis and neglect contradicting evidence
Scientists need to design studies that may disprove their theories.
Sister’s Divorce Example – she never liked her husband, so she always looks for negative evidence towards him and ignores the positive. Friend has boyfriend you don’t like:
Chapter One: Psychology and Scientific Thinking
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior.
As a discipline, psychology spans many levels of analysis.
Biological social influences
Attachment
Need to examine ALL of them: genetic/neurochemical/physiological and mental/behavioral/social level
Depression at differing levels of Explanation
Molecular level>Neurochemical>Neurological/physiological>Mental>Behavioral>Social
Challenging and Fascinating 1.1 Explain why common sense isn’t always wrong
5 difficulties:
Human behavior difficult to predict – many causes
These causes influence one another
Individual differences in thinking, emotion, and personality
We influence one another – reciprocal determinism
Behavior shaped by culture – Emic (culture from inside) vs. etic (culture from outside)
Naïve Realism
Belief see world precisely as is – “seeing is believing”
Example: which table is longer (optical illusion). Point of it is, we need to look further.
When Common Sense is Right
Not all common sense is wrong
Can serve as generator of hypothesis
Test the hypothesis!
Psychology as a Science 1.2 explain the importance of science as a set of safeguards against biases
Science
Not a body of knowledge
Is an approach to empiricism*
Tests observations using rigorous methods
Is an approach to evidence
Theories and Hypothesis
A scientific theory: explanation for a large number of findings
A hypothesis: Is a specific prediction based on a theory, and can then be tested.
Science as a Safeguard against Bias
Confirmation bias
Tendency to seek out evidence that supports our hypothesis and neglect contradicting evidence
Scientists need to design studies that may disprove their theories.
Sister’s Divorce Example – she never liked her husband, so she always looks for negative evidence towards him and ignores the positive. Friend has boyfriend you don’t like: