INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 1

 The systematic study of mental processes and behaviour  Mental Processes are also known as Thoughts and Feelings  Main goals in Psychology are to: Describe Predict Control Explain Thoughts, feelings and behaviour

 Any observable action or response, that is able to be seen and measured, made by a living person or animal.  Examples: eating, walking, smiling, watching tv  It DOES NOT include thoughts and feelings  Note, however, that thoughts and feelings INFLUENCE behaviour and vice versa

 There are two main types of behaviour: ◦ Overt behaviour – any response that is external and directly observable. Usually it can be seen happening.  Eg: smiling, turning the page of a book... ◦ Covert behaviour – any response that is internal or hidden, thus cannot be directly observed.  Eg: thoughts, feelings, brainwave activity, glandular activity...

4 years full time study in psychology degree AND 2 years full time post graduate study in psychology OR 2 years full time practice under supervision Must be registered with a State or Territory board (APS) Medical degree AND Post graduation qualification in psychiatry Able to perform medical procedures Able to prescribe drugs to treat or control symptoms of mental health problems Registered with AMA

 Academic psychologist  Clinical psychologist  Community psychologist  Counselling psychologist  Educational psychologist  Forensic psychologist  Health psychologist  Neuropsychologist  Organisational psychologist  Sport psychologist

 Psychologists approach the study of behaviour in a scientific way ◦ SCIENTIFIC METHOD: the systematic approach for planning, conducting and reporting research involving the collection of empirical data  This method allows psychologists to draw accurate and objective conclusions

 So try not to overcome this problem, it is important to repeat the research to ensure the results are accurate or can be applied to other situations  REPLICATION: involves conducting an experiment again to ensure the results are accurate or can be duplicated, hence ensuring the results are.

 STEP 1: ◦ Identify the research problem  STEP 2: ◦ Formulate a hypothesis (A testable prediction of the results)  STEP 3: ◦ Design the method Including a description of the participants (ie: people who take part in the research). The responses of the participants form the data/results of the research.

 STEP 4: ◦ Collect the data The different data collection techniques include:  Direct observation  Questionnaire  Interview  Psychological test  Recording physiological responses  Examining archival files  STEP 5: ◦ Analyse the data Summarising, organising & representing the ‘raw data’ in a logical format. Using this data, it is possible to determine whether the hypothesis is supported or rejected.

 STEP 6: ◦ Interpret and explain the data  Drawing conclusions from the results obtained  A conclusion is a judgement about what the results of an investigation mean  The conclusion should relate directly to the hypothesis from Step 2.  STEP 7: ◦ Report the research findings  Usually, a report is presented to other psychologists at a conference and/or submitted for publication in a scientific journal.

 There are many ways of explaining human behaviour that are NOT based on science even though they may claim to be.  Some have scientific sounding names and use very sophisticated systems for explaining behaviour.  E.g. Astrology, numerology, palmistry, graphology.

 These kinds of alternative approaches are often called psuedosciences (fake/false science).

 Psychic: someone who claims to have supernatural ‘powers’ associated with the mind  Psi abilities: the alleged powers that enable the mind to act in a way that is beyond its known capabilities. E.g. Esp, psychokinesis/telekinesis  ESP (extrasensory perception): the ability to perceive events without the use of the 5 known human senses.

 Psychokinesis/telekinesis: the alleged ability to influence or control an external, physical event of object through thought processes alone. ◦ E.g. Bending a spoon by concentration alone  Astrology: a system for predicting & explaining behaviour based on the positions of the planets & stars at the time of a person’s birth.