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What is Psychology?
A. Psychologys Roots
1. Questions a) Who are we? b) What produces our thoughts? c) Our feelings? d) Actions? e) Understand and Manage people around us? 2. Psychological Science is Born a) To be human is to be curious about the world around us. b) First Experiment
(1) University of Leipzig (2) Press Key When Sound is Made
f) Introspection
(1) focusing on inner sensations, images, and feelings
g) 1920s to 1960s
(1) Redefined Psychology
(a) The scientific study of behavior (b) Behaviorists
(a) historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individuals potential for personal growth. (b) rebelled against both behaviorism and Freudian psychology. i) (c) the view hat psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes.
emphasized the importance of current environmental influences on our growth potential and the importance of having our needs for love and acceptance satisfied.
(4) Psychology
(a) science of behavior and mental processes
(5) Behavior
(a) Anything an organism does
B. Contemporary Psychology
1. Psychologys Biggest Question a) What is psychologys historic big issue?
(1) nature-nurture issue
(a) the controversy over the relative contributions of biology and experience to the development of our traits and behaviors
2. Psychologys Three Main Levels of Analysis a) What are psychologys levels of analysis and related perspectives?
(1) Levels of analysis
(a) the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social0cultural for analyzing any given phenomenon
(b) evolutionary i) (c) How the natural selection of traits promoted the survival of genes
(f)
social-cultural i) How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures
(5) Psychiatry
(a) a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practice by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy.
C. Critical Thinking
1. thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
a) repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances. 5. Case Study a) an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
B. Description
1. The Case Study a) Examines one individual in depth in the hope of revealing things true of us all.
(1) Sometimes misleading
b) Population
(1) all the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn
c) Random Sample
(1) a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
d) Naturalistic Observation
(1) observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
3. Wording Effects a) Word choice fucks with peoples brain and choices
C. Correlation
1. the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other. The correlation coefficient is the mathematical expression of the relationship, ranging from -1 to +1
D. Illusory Correlation
1. the perception of a relationship where none exists
F. Experimentation
1. Isolate Cause and Effects 2. Experiment a) a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process. By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors 3. Random Assignment a) assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups 4. Experimental Group a) in an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable 5. Control Group
a) in an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment 6. Double-Blind Procedure a) an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drugevaluation studies. 7. Placebo a) experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition which the recipient assumes is an active agent
C. Read D. Rehearse E. Review F. Distribute your study time G. Learn to think critically H. Listen Actively I. Overlearn J. Be a smart test-taker