The Science of Psychology Chapter 1

LO 1.1 Definition and goals of psychology What is Psychology? Psychology - scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Behavior - outward or overt actions and reactions. Mental processes - internal, covert activity of our minds. Psychology is a science Menu

Psychology’s Four Goals LO 1.1 Definition and goals of psychology Psychology’s Four Goals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM Description What is happening? Explanation (theory) Why is it happening? Prediction Will it happen again? Control How can it be changed? Menu

In the Beginning Relatively new field approximately 125 years old Influenced by: Philosophers- interested in understanding the human mind and its connection to physical body Medical doctors and physiologists- interested in the physical connection between body and brain

The Philosophers Aristotle- Believed the soul and body were aspects of same structure Plato- Believed soul could exist separately of body Rene Descartes- Agreed with Plato and believed pineal gland was the seat of the soul

LO 1.2 Structuralism and functionalism Structuralism - focused on structure or basic elements of the mind. Wilhelm Wundt’s psychology laboratory Germany in 1879 Developed the technique of objective introspection Edward Titchener Wundt’s student; brought structuralism to America. Menu

LO 1.2 Structuralism and functionalism Functionalism - how the mind allows people to adapt, live, work, and play. Proposed by William James. Interested in the importance of consciousness to everyday life rather than analysis of it Menu

Gestalt Psychology Gestalt – “An organized Whole” psychology. LO 1.3 Early Gestalt, psychoanalysis, and behaviorism Gestalt Psychology Gestalt – “An organized Whole” psychology. Started with Wertheimer, who studied sensation and perception. Believed that psychological events (i.e., perceiving and sensing) could not be broken down into any smaller elements and still be understood Menu

Gestalt Psychology

LO 1.3 Early Gestalt, psychoanalysis, and behaviorism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj2JFI4BsRQ&feature=related Freud- Neurologist (specialized in disorders of the nervous system) Proposed there was an unconscious mind for which we push, or repress, all of our threatening urges and desires The repressed urges, in trying to surface, created the nervous disorders in patients Menu

LO 1.3 Early Gestalt, psychoanalysis, and behaviorism Behaviorism - the science of behavior that focuses on observable behavior only. Proposed by John B. Watson. Based much from work of Ivan Pavlov who demonstrated that a reflex could be conditioned (learned). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpoLxEN54ho&feature=related Watson believed that phobias were learned. Case of “Little Albert” – taught to fear a white rat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt0ucxOrPQE Menu

Modern Perspectives Psychodynamic perspective – LO 1.4 Modern perspectives Skinner, Maslow, and Rogers Modern Perspectives Psychodynamic perspective – Unconscious mind influences behaviors Development of sense of self and discovery of motivations Behavioral perspective – All behavior is learned Operant conditioning Reinforcement Menu

Modern Perspectives Humanistic perspective LO 1.4 Modern perspectives Skinner, Maslow, and Rogers Modern Perspectives Humanistic perspective Free will- freedom to chose destiny Early founders: Abraham Maslow Carl Rogers Self-actualization - achieving one’s full potential or actual self. Menu

Modern Perspectives Cognitive perspective – LO 1.4 Modern perspectives Skinner, Maslow, and Rogers Modern Perspectives Cognitive perspective – Focuses on memory, intelligence, perception, problem solving, and learning. Menu

Modern Perspectives Sociocultural perspective – http://www.betterdaystv.net/play.php?vid=19442 Focuses on the relationship between social behavior and culture.

Modern Perspectives Biopsychological perspective – LO 1.4 Modern perspectives Skinner, Maslow, and Rogers Modern Perspectives Biopsychological perspective – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKk96kOAnLg Behavior attributed to genetic influences, hormones, and the activity of the nervous system. Evolutionary perspective – focuses on the biological bases of universal mental characteristics Behavior seen as having an adaptive or survival value. . Menu

Psychology and the Scientific Method LO 1.6 Psychology is a science; steps in scientific method Psychology and the Scientific Method Scientific method - system of gathering data so that bias and error in measurement are reduced. Steps in the Scientific Method: Perceive the question Form a hypothesis Test hypothesis Draw conclusions Report your results so that others can try to replicate it Menu

Descriptive Methods Naturalistic observation Advantage: LO 1.7 Naturalistic and laboratory settings Descriptive Methods Naturalistic observation Advantage: Realistic picture of behavior Disadvantages: Observer effect – tendency of observer to influence behavior Observer bias - tendency of observers to see what they expect to see Each naturalistic setting is unique and observations may not hold true. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIG6EMVy6zs&feature=related

LO 1.7 Naturalistic and laboratory settings Descriptive Methods http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EjJsPylEOY&feature=related Laboratory observation – observing behavior in a laboratory setting. Advantages: Control, allows use of specialized equipment. Disadvantage: Artificial situation that may result in artificial behavior. Menu

LO 1.8 Case studies and surveys Descriptive Methods http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc213mMSsjY&feature=related Case study - study of one individual in great detail. Advantage: tremendous amount of detail. Disadvantage: cannot apply to others. Famous case study: Phineas Gage. Menu

Descriptive Methods Surveys – method involving a series of questions LO 1.8 Case studies and surveys Descriptive Methods Surveys – method involving a series of questions Representative sample - randomly selected from a larger population of subjects. Population - the entire group Advantages: Data from large numbers of people. Study covert behaviors. Disadvantages: Have to ensure representative sample People are not always accurate (courtesy bias). Menu

Descriptive Methods When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween? How many languages can you speak? Afraid of heights? Sing in the car? Dance in the car? Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? First concert? Can you curl your tongue? Own any record albums? Own a record player? What was the last concert you saw? Have you ever stolen a street sign before? Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? What is your biggest pet peeve? Do you chew your pens and pencils? What is your Song of the week? Is it okay for guys to wear pink? Do you still watch cartoons? Whats your least favorite movie? What movies could you watch over and over and still love? Ever gotten a speeding ticket? Ran out of gas?

Random Sampling from Population INFERENCE POPULATION SAMPLE Menu

Finding Relationships LO 1.9 Correlational technique Finding Relationships Correlation - a measure of the relationship between two variables Variable- anything that can change or vary. Correlation coefficient (r) represents two things: direction of the relationship. strength of the relationship. Menu

Finding Relationships LO 1.9 Correlational technique Finding Relationships Positive correlation – variables are related in the same direction. As one increases, the other increases; as one decreases, the other decreases. Negative correlation – variables are related in opposite direction. As one increases, the other decreases. CORRELATION DOES NOT PROVE CAUSATION http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155004/?tab=playlist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dbDJzDV1CM&feature=related Menu

LO 1.10 Experimental approach and terms The Experiment Experiment- manipulation of a variable to see the effects of another variable Shows cause-and-effect relationships. Operational definition – objective definition of a variable (enables it to be directly measured). Independent variable (IV) – manipulated variable Dependent variable (DV) – effected variable Menu

LO 1.10 Experimental approach and terms Experimental group – Group subjected to independent variable. Control group – group not subjected to independent variable (controls for confounding variables). Random assignment - process of assigning to group randomly, equal chance of being in either group. Controls for confounding (extraneous, interfering) variables. Menu

Random Assignment Experimental Group Test for Differences SAMPLE LO 1.10 Experimental approach and terms Random Assignment Experimental Group Test for Differences SAMPLE Control Group Menu

LO 1.11 Placebo and the experimenter effects Placebo effect – participants’ expectations influence how they behave. Single-blind study- subjects do not know what group they are in. Experimenter effect- experimenter influences the results of the study. Double-blind study - neither the experimenter nor the subjects know the subjects’ group Menu

Example of a Real Experiment LO 1.12 Conducting a real experiment Example of a Real Experiment Hypothesis Independent variable Dependent variable Experimental group Control group Menu