The Study of Psychology

What to expect? Social sciences –Explore influences of society on individual behavior and group relationships Natural sciences –Looks for biological explanations for human behavior Psychology is a unique course – different from any other classes. It is connected to both social sciences (history or economics) and the natural sciences (biology and chemistry). As you go through the course, you can gain insight into your own behavior and those around you.

How Do Psychologists Think? Constantly question assumptions and look for alternative evidence and conclusions Use the scientific method as a problem- solving tool to think critically by encouraging open-mindedness, intellectual curiosity, and evaluation of reasons Think critically and objectively about everyday issues, people, and problems

Gaining Insight Into Behavior Example of “Hopelessly Shy” Elizabeth –Not paralyzingly shy; just does not like unstructured groups –Learning that she is not alone in her feeling and thinking about her feelings helps her gain confidence in herself

Acquiring Practical Information Psychologists have developed concrete and detailed ways to carry out a number of useful procedures –Systematic way of dispensing rewards and punishments called shaping (ex. Training a dog, loaning money to friends many times) –Mnemonic devices, or memory aids, to help retain information (ex. “Thirty days has September,” phrase or rhyme to associate items on a list (HOMES))

Psychology In Action Friend’s comment about your hair or clothes –You blow up, getting violently angry and deeply hurt –Why? Emotions occur as the result of a physical stimulation paired with some social and personal event. If you had no physical reaction you will not feel that emotion in the usual sense. –Different situations (How do you respond to the same comment?) You just drank two can of caffeinated soda You are very tired

Overview of Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes Psychologists differ in how much importance they place on specific types of behavior –Study only behavior that can be seen or measured –Our thoughts and feelings –Steve and his internet addiction

Overview of Psychology “Blind Men and the Elephant” –Six very wise, but blind, men were out on a journey when they came across a sleeping elephant –They did not know what was blocking their way, so they set about to discover what they could about the obstacle

Overview of Psychology “Blind Men and the Elephant”

Overview of Psychology “Blind Men and the Elephant” –Hands on different sections of the elephant, examining in great detail and much thought –1 st Man – elephant’s trunk – “creature was long, wormlike, and flexible” –2 nd Man – seated astride the elephant – “creature is wide, very round, and does not move very much” –3 rd Man – holding one of the tusks – “a small, hard, pointed creature”

Overview of Psychology “Blind Men and the Elephant” –4 th Man – feeling the elephant’s knee – “feels like a tree” –5 th Man – feeling the ear – “very much like a fan” –6 th Man – elephant’s tail – “much like a rope”

Overview of Psychology “Blind Men and the Elephant” –Each man was correct in his description! –They needed to combine their accumulated knowledge

Overview of Psychology The study of human behavior is similar to the story of the “Blind Men and the Elephant” –Cannot rely on simplistic explanations –To understand observations, psychologists combine the results of many studies We think we understand people Sometimes our conclusions are not accurate because we are not systematic in our efforts

Goals of Psychology Describe, explain, predict, and influence behavior

Goals of Psychology Description – first goal is to describe or gather information about the behavior being studied and to present what is known –Ex. Steve’s behavior at college

Goals of Psychology Explanation – explain why people (or animals) behave as they do; called psychological principle (valid ideas about behavior) –Hypothesis is an educated guess or a prediction about the results of a study –Theory is an explanation based on findings

Goals of Psychology Prediction – to predict, as a result of accumulated knowledge, what organisms will do and, in the case of humans, what they will think or feel in various situations

Goals of Psychology Influence – seek to influence behavior in helpful ways

Scientific Basis of Psychology To ensure that data are collected accurately, psychologists rely on the scientific method Facts are based on data –Experiments, surveys, and case studies –Conclusions reached by identifying a specific problem or question, formulating a hypothesis, collecting data through observation and experimentation, and analyzing the data

Although psychologists use the scientific method to test and support many theories, many questions about behavior remain unanswered Theories are continually reviewed and revised –New questions –New studies