Introduction to Psychology Suzy Scherf Lecture 1: Introduction The Science of Psychology Thinking Critically in Psychology Evaluating the SSSM.

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
Biology, Biologists, and Society What is science? Science is a way of knowing based on experimental or observational evidence and its interpretation. Science.
Advertisements

What is Psychology? Goal Be a critical thinker – ask questions. Believe nothing without examining the evidence. 2. Consider that often the answers.
1. Review- What is Science Explain- What kinds of understandings does science contribute about the natural world Form an Opinion- Do you think that scientists.
Welcome to Survey of Research Methods and Statistics! PS 510.
The Biological Perspective
Research Methods Chapter 1. Behavioral Research Behavioral Medicine Communication Criminology Human Development Education Psychology Sociology.
Critical and Scientific Thinking in Psychology chapter 1.
Introduction to Psychology by Charles Stangor. Introduction to Psychology Psychology as a Science The Evolution of Psychology: History, Approaches, and.
IS PSYCHOLOGY A SCIENCE?
Psychology 110 Crystal Ehresman Office: Room 530
Psychology – The Science AP Psychology Ms. Desgrosellier
Biology, Biologists, and Society What is science? Science is a way of knowing based on experimental or observational evidence and its interpretation. Science.
Introducing Psychology
Critical Thinking = The ability and willingness to assess claims and make objective judgments on the basis of well- supported reasons and evidence, rather.
MOD 1 PART 2 WITH ASSIGNMENTS AP PSYCHOLOGY. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE DEVELOPS How has the science of psychology’s focus changed since its birth at the end.
What is Psychology? Chapter 1. Definition Psychology can be defined as – the discipline concerned with behavior and mental processes and how they are.
What is Science?.  Science = Latin “to know” Inquiry is at the heart of science.  Inquiry: search for information and explanation Two main processes:
Introduction to Psychology What is Psychology? Research vs. Applied Psychology Founding Fathers of the study of Psychology.
What is Science? Science is a system of knowledge based on facts and principles.
Psychology Definition: Scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organisms’ physical state, mental state, and.
Social Cognitive & Trait Theories
8 Basic Guidelines to Critical Thinking in Psychology Mrs. Whittemore Westford Academy.
PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 1 – WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
Psychology Chapter 1: What is Psychology? Section 1: The Science of Psychology.
The Field of Psychology Gaining Insight into Behavior Behavior results from physiological (physical) processes and cognitive (intellectual) processes.
WHY ARE YOU HERE? Yes ….. You! IB SEHS STUDENTS?.
IS PSYCHOLOGY A SCIENCE? wtUY.
Myers’ EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (6th Ed) Chapter 1 Thinking Critically with Psychological Science.
What is Psychology? Chpt 1.
The Scientific Method What is the Scientific Method? Click here!
Introduction to Psychology Contemporary Studies. What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by.
Introduction to Psychology What IS Psychology? Why should I care about it?
Introduction to Psychology Day 2. Psychologists must be skeptical and think critically What is the evidence? How was it collected? Psychology is Empirical.
Theories and Hypotheses. Assumptions of science A true physical universe exists Order through cause and effect, the connections can be discovered Knowledge.
What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism ’ s physical, state, mental state, and.
Critical Thinking An education’s central mission.
PSY 2012 General Psychology Samuel R. Mathews, Ph.D. Associate Professor The Department of Psychology The University of West Florida.
Introduction to Social Sciences Social Sciences use research and data analysis to explain human behaviour – what people think, how and why they act the.
Introduction to Psychology Lecture 1: Introduction.
Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Chapter 1 Research: An Overview.
CAS Managebac update CAS opportunity for someone with a scanner. Cambodia?
+ Intro to Psychology What is psychology? What is Psychology?
Chapter 1: The Science Of Psychology
Conducting Research Psychology, like chemistry and biology, is an experimental science, assumptions must be supported by scientific evidence. It is not.
CHAPTER 2 PSYCHOLOGICAL METHODS CONDUCTING RESEARCH.
Intro. To Psychology Intro. Unit Mr. Stalnaker. Psychology What is Psychology? Psychology is old as a study but young, vigorous, and growing as an organized.
Chapter 2 Section 1 Conducting Research Obj: List and explain the steps scientists follow in conducting scientific research.
Why take notes? *Write it  Notes and classwork will NOT ALWAYS be graded, but will be sometimes  ~So expect it so you are not surprised!  Tests will.
I. What is Psychology?. Psychology: the sum or characteristics of the mental states and processes of a person or class of persons, or of the mental states.
The Science of Psychology
Definition Slides.
Lesson by Ryan Benson, M.A.
Week 1 Lesson 1 A Lecture Slides
WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY ? Chapter 1.
Short Answer Responses
What comes to mind when you think of psychology?
What is Science?.
Introduction to Psychology
What is Science?.
What is Science?.
Introduction to Science as an Inquiry-Based Process
Definition Slides.
What is Psychology?.
QUIZ TIME!!!!!! Use your notebooks! Bell Work.
What is Science?.
Myers’ EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (6th Ed)
Welcome to IB Psychology- Standard Level!
Unit 3 Biological Bases of Behavior
LECTURE NOTE 1 CONCEPT OF PSYCHOLOGY What is Psychology?
Presentation transcript:

Introduction to Psychology Suzy Scherf Lecture 1: Introduction The Science of Psychology Thinking Critically in Psychology Evaluating the SSSM

What is Psychology?

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical, state, mental state, and external environment.

What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical, state, mental state, and external environment. Scientific study requires several things: 1.Theoretical framework 2.Testable Hypotheses 3.Empirical evidence

What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical, state, mental state, and external environment. Behavior and mental processes include overt, observable instances but also include subtle kinds of instances, like brain activity.

What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical, state, mental state, and external environment. Humans and may other creatures included in the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and external environment. Physical state relates primarily to the organism’s biology - most especially the state of the brain and central nervous system

What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and external environment. Mental state does not have to be conscious - can study mental states in many creatures without their conscious awareness - and can be studied in terms of brain activity.

What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and external environment. All organisms function in an environment that is constantly presenting them with problems and challenges that must be solved.

What is Psychology? The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and external environment. Most people think of psychology as the study of differences between people, but it also includes the study of similarities between people.

What is Psychology? Kinds of Psychologists: (all scientists) Cognitive Social Developmental Health Clinical Human Factors Cognitive Neuroscience Evolutionary Educational

What is Scientific Thinking? 1. Critical thinking - assess claims on the basis of well-supported reasons and evidence - not on emotional or anecdotal reasoning. 2. Involves asking questions - one of the most important is, “WHY?” 3. Involves defining terms - must be clear and concrete

What is Scientific Thinking? 4. Involves examining evidence - “Let me have my opinion!” doesn’t count 5. Involves analyzing assumptions and biases - scientific thinkers do not take anything as proven fact and work hard to overcome their own biases in thinking

What is Scientific Thinking? 6. Involves avoiding emotional reasoning - do not let gut feelings replace clear thinking - emotional conviction does not settle arguments 7. Involves avoiding oversimplification - the obvious answer is often wrong and misleading - do not argue based on own anecdotal evidence

What is Scientific Thinking? 8. Involves consideration of other interpretations - the best interpretations are supported by the most evidence and explain the most variables 9. Involves tolerating uncertainty - sometimes evidence is unclear or does not even exist 10. Involves asking questions that can be tested in this world

What is Scientific Thinking? What is the difference between these two statements? 1. I like Fords better than Hondas. 2. Fords are better than Hondas. 3. Fords are the best in the world and Hondas do not exist; they are a conspiracy of the Japanese government. And what about this statement?

What’s Happening in Our Class?

1. Taking a look at Psychology by asking five broad questions. How did we get here? How do we act? How do we think/know? How do we interact? How do we differ?

What’s Happening in Our Class? 2. We will always be asking how the physical state of an organism and its environment simultaneously influence an organism’s behavior and mental processes. 3. We will spend a lot of time discussing how people are similar and some time talking about how they are different.

What’s Happening in Our Class? 4. We will draw on what we know about other critters to help us understand ourselves. 5. We will study and critique all kinds of ideas about the way people work. 6. We will learn a set of theoretical tools in the beginning of class and continue to use them though out the course.

What’s Happening in Our Class? Examples of ideas that we will discuss and evaluate: What happens to our brains when we eat chocolate? Are women just gold-diggers and men just superficial? How do people overdose on drugs? Why are we fooled by magic tricks?

What’s Happening in Our Class? Examples of ideas that we will discuss and evaluate: Why can children learn any language while adults have to work so hard to learn a second language? Why is Jamie Lee Curtis a man genetically? What is stem cell research and why do we care?

Evolution is the best scientific theory that explains how we got here. How Did We Get Here?

Most psychologists don’t ask about how we got here. They only study how things work now that we are here. Why Does it Matter How We Got Here? Knowing how we got here helps us understand why we work the way we do. Evolution is crucial for understanding psychology!

Psychology without Evolution The Standard Social Science Model (SSSM) Most psychologists agree that bodily organs evolved to serve a function. They believe that our brains and behavior transcend biology! However, many of them also believe that the mind/brain and behavior did not evolve to serve a function.

What is Psychology Like without Evolution? 1. Social scientists don’t tend to ask questions like, “How did we get here?” Without this question we have no complete theory of human psychology

No way to study what the mind is for, or what it is designed to do. Can only study how the mind works. 2. Can only ask HOW questions – not WHY questions. What is Psychology Like without Evolution?

3. Traditional psychology has to work through trial- and-error to discover the mind’s operating principles No overarching theory that guides inquiry about “mind design” SCIENTIFIC BLIND ALLEY What is Psychology Like without Evolution? Trial-and-error approach can lead to bind alleys

4. An artificial line is drawn between the Social and the Natural sciences. Our biology makes everything we do possible – including social interactions and learning What is Psychology Like without Evolution? All of science is a coherent enterprise – can’t have contradictions across fields We are not above our biological nature!

5. It assumes that humans born as a blank slate. All living things are born with important preparations for living What is Psychology Like without Evolution? Just because a trait is not present at birth does not mean that it is acquired through experience (ie. Puberty) – process of Maturation

6. It assumes that differences among people arise primarily from different experiences and cultures. Genes also contribute to differences between individuals Experience has to act on something – a biological organism Genes and environment always working together to mold an individual What is Psychology Like w/o Evolution?