PSYCHOLOGY Scientific study of: Human Behavior (Actions) Cognition (Thoughts) Affect (Feelings) Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist? Psychiatrist = Medical Doctor (MD) Psychologist = PhD, Master’s level

PSYCHOLOGY INCLUDES: Perspectives On: Instincts Genetics Learning Development

PSYCHOLOGY – EARLY ROOTS Philosophy Thinking about thinking Aristotle – theories about learning, emotion, motivation, etc.

BIRTH OF PSYCHOLOGY Wilhelm Wundt (Germany) Established the 1 st psychology laboratory 1 st Experiments: measured time lag between hearing a sound and hitting a button Emphasis on introspection Examining one’s own emotions and mental processes

PSYCHOLOGY BEGINNINGS William James Wrote Principles of Psychology (1890) 1 st widely recognized text of Psychology Introspective examination of stream of consciousness and emotion

PSYCHOLOGY BEGINNINGS Sigmund Freud (early 1900s) Psychoanalysis: Treating pathology through dialogue between patient and psychoanalyst Theories on personality and the unconscious mind Defense mechanisms (e.g., repression)

BEHAVIORISM ( ) Science viewed as rooted in observations Rejected introspection Can’t observe feelings and thoughts CAN observe people’s behavior (objective) Famous Behaviorists: John B. Watson Little Albert Study B.F. Skinner Studied how consequences shape behavior

HINDSIGHT BIAS “Hindsight is 20/20” After learning the outcome of a situation, we tend to believe that we knew what would happen all along

SCIENCE INCLUDES: Theory Organizes and links observed facts Puts forth hypotheses that can be tested Hypothesis A prediction that can be tested Observation Identification/Description Experimental Investigation: Scientific Method

Observations & Descriptions of Behavior Case Study Freud Oliver Sacks – Neurologist Study one individual in great depth Hope is to gain information that can apply to all (or many) of us Survey Many cases but less depth People report their behaviors or opinions Wording effects Random Sample most accurate (each member of the population of interest has equal chance of being included)

Observations & Descriptions of Behavior Naturalistic Observation Watching & recording behavior in a natural environment Informed Consent Issue Jane Goodall – Chimpanzee observations -

CORRELATION VS CAUSE/EFFECT Correlation: Relationship of two or more variables. No Correlation Positive- Both variables change in same way Negative- Both variables change in different ways Does not Demonstrate Causality

No Correlation

Positive Correlation Time increases & jump height increases

Negative Correlation Temperature decreases as elevation increases

CORRELATION AND CAUSATION Three possible cause-effect relations could cause (1) Low self-esteem Depression (2) Depression Low self-esteem Depression (3) Distressing events or biological predisposition could cause or and

THE EXPERIMENT Experiment: one or more factor is manipulated to observe the effect Groups Experimental (receives the treatment) Control Placebo (e.g., sugar pill) Random Assignment – helps rule out alternative explanations Double Blind Procedure Both researchers & participants are “blind” about whether the participants have received the treatment or a placebo Clever Hans ( video.htmvideo.htm)

Experimentation Independent Variable the experimental factor that is manipulated the variable whose effect is being studied Dependent Variable the experimental factor that is being measured in psychology it is usually a behavior or mental process may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable REMEMBER: Correlational studies uncover naturally occurring relationships. Experiments manipulate a factor to determine its effect.

Examples: Independent Variables (IV) & Dependent Variables (DV) Researchers want to examine the effect of a positive behavior program on rates of referrals to the principal’s office. IV? DV? A significant difference was found in the graduation rates of at-risk high-school seniors who participated in an intensive study program when compared to at-risk high-school seniors who did not participate in the intensive study program. IV? DV?