The Scientific Attitude The Need for Psychological Science

The Limits of Intuition and Common Sense FHow can we best use psychology to understand why people think, feel and act as they do? FWe must separate uninformed opinions from examined conclusions! FHow can we best use psychology to understand why people think, feel and act as they do? FWe must separate uninformed opinions from examined conclusions!

Did we know it all along? FRomance - Psychological findings

Hindsight Bias FTendency to believe, after learning the outcome, that one would have foreseen it FI-knew-it-all-along phenomenon FTendency to believe, after learning the outcome, that one would have foreseen it FI-knew-it-all-along phenomenon

The Need for Research FCommon sense is after the fact FDescribes what has already happened, rather than predicting the future FScientifically proven or common sense? FCommon sense is after the fact FDescribes what has already happened, rather than predicting the future FScientifically proven or common sense?

True or False? 1.If you want to teach a habit that persists, reward the desired behavior every time, not just intermittently. FALSE! Behavior that is rewarded intermittently is much more addictive - think gambling! 1.If you want to teach a habit that persists, reward the desired behavior every time, not just intermittently. FALSE! Behavior that is rewarded intermittently is much more addictive - think gambling!

True or False? 2. Patients whose brains are surgically split down the middle survive and function much as they did before surgery. TRUE! While they may have a few “quirks” (such as drawing a square with their left hand and a circle with their right), they live healthy, normal lives. 2. Patients whose brains are surgically split down the middle survive and function much as they did before surgery. TRUE! While they may have a few “quirks” (such as drawing a square with their left hand and a circle with their right), they live healthy, normal lives.

True or False? 3. Traumatic experiences, such as sexual abuse or surviving the Holocaust, are typically “repressed” from memory. FALSE! People typically remember their traumatic event vividly. It is usually “automatically encoded” - also called a flashbulb memory. 3. Traumatic experiences, such as sexual abuse or surviving the Holocaust, are typically “repressed” from memory. FALSE! People typically remember their traumatic event vividly. It is usually “automatically encoded” - also called a flashbulb memory.

True or False? 4. Fears of harmless objects, such as flowers, are just as easy to acquire as fears of potentially dangerous objects, such as snakes. FALSE! Think of the evolutionary perspective - our ancestors that were not afraid of snakes may have been bitten - and died! This is nature! 4. Fears of harmless objects, such as flowers, are just as easy to acquire as fears of potentially dangerous objects, such as snakes. FALSE! Think of the evolutionary perspective - our ancestors that were not afraid of snakes may have been bitten - and died! This is nature!

True or False? 5. Adopted siblings tend not to develop similar personalities, even though reared by the same parents. TRUE! Findings from studies of hundreds of adoptive families is that people who grow up together, whether biologically related or not, do not much resemble one another in personality. Consider this: is your personality identical to that of your siblings? 5. Adopted siblings tend not to develop similar personalities, even though reared by the same parents. TRUE! Findings from studies of hundreds of adoptive families is that people who grow up together, whether biologically related or not, do not much resemble one another in personality. Consider this: is your personality identical to that of your siblings?

Scramble FWREAT --> WATER FETRYN --> ENTRY FGRABE --> BARGE FAbout how many seconds do you think it would have taken you to unscramble each of these? FWREAT --> WATER FETRYN --> ENTRY FGRABE --> BARGE FAbout how many seconds do you think it would have taken you to unscramble each of these?

Your Turn FOCHSA FThe average problem solver spends 3 minutes! FOCHSA FThe average problem solver spends 3 minutes!

Overconfidence FHindsight makes it seem obvious - so much so that people become overconfident FHindsight bias and overconfidence often lead us to overestimate our intuition FHindsight makes it seem obvious - so much so that people become overconfident FHindsight bias and overconfidence often lead us to overestimate our intuition

The Scientific Attitude FCuriosity! FBe skeptical, but not cynical FBe open, but not gullible FCurious skepticism - What do you mean? How do you know? Show me the evidence! FHumility - you may have to reject your own ideas FCritical thinking - know it, show it! FCuriosity! FBe skeptical, but not cynical FBe open, but not gullible FCurious skepticism - What do you mean? How do you know? Show me the evidence! FHumility - you may have to reject your own ideas FCritical thinking - know it, show it!

The Scientific Attitude FScientific approach helps us sift reality from illusion FCritical thinking examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses outcomes FPut ideas to the test! FScientific approach helps us sift reality from illusion FCritical thinking examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses outcomes FPut ideas to the test!

The Scientific Methods FTheory FHypotheses - a testable prediction FHow will you test it? Survey? Case study? Experiment? FOperational Definition - statement of procedures used to define research variables FReplication FTheory FHypotheses - a testable prediction FHow will you test it? Survey? Case study? Experiment? FOperational Definition - statement of procedures used to define research variables FReplication

The Scientific Method (1) Theories --> (2) Hypotheses --> (3) Research and Observations --> (1) Refined Theories, cont. (1) Theories --> (2) Hypotheses --> (3) Research and Observations --> (1) Refined Theories, cont.

Research Methods FSurveys FMany cases in less depth FAdvantages - Disadvantages FFalse consensus effect - the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors FWhat are the three largest divisions of Christianity in the United States? FSurveys FMany cases in less depth FAdvantages - Disadvantages FFalse consensus effect - the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors FWhat are the three largest divisions of Christianity in the United States?

Research Methods FCase Studies FStudy one individual in great depth FAdvantages - Disadvantages FCase Studies FStudy one individual in great depth FAdvantages - Disadvantages

Correlation FBoard Notes :)