Honours Seminar Lecture 4: Debates in Psychology

Therapeutic touch Philadelphia Association of Critical Thinking Philadelphia Association of Critical Thinking $1,000,000 to someone who better than chance can detect whether someone’s arms are in a fibre-glass cast or not. $1,000,000 to someone who better than chance can detect whether someone’s arms are in a fibre-glass cast or not. No one has claimed the prize No one has claimed the prize What would be the test statistic of this association? How many trials? What would be the test statistic of this association? How many trials? Loaded dice, coins that are unreliable? Loaded dice, coins that are unreliable?

Ronald Regan In 1980, Ronald Reagan famously asserted that trees themselves are a source of pollution. During his election campaign he mocked environmentalists, saying if they had their way "we'd all be living in rabbits' holes and birds' nests." In 1980, Ronald Reagan famously asserted that trees themselves are a source of pollution. During his election campaign he mocked environmentalists, saying if they had their way "we'd all be living in rabbits' holes and birds' nests." Now we have global warming Now we have global warming

Weight experiment Weigh yourself at night. Weigh yourself at night. Weigh yourself in the morning. Weigh yourself in the morning. Do nothing other than sleep in between Do nothing other than sleep in between You will lose 1-3 pounds depending on your weight from sleeping You will lose 1-3 pounds depending on your weight from sleeping Where have you gone? Where have you gone?

Magical Thinking On a sheet of paper, DO NOT WRITE YOUR NAME. On a sheet of paper, DO NOT WRITE YOUR NAME. Describe in detail a superstitious belief which you hold, or an example of magical or wishful thinking. Describe in detail a superstitious belief which you hold, or an example of magical or wishful thinking. Write this out as you believe it. Do not express any of the negative sides of the belief system Write this out as you believe it. Do not express any of the negative sides of the belief system Group work Group work

Design an experiment to test the belief

Hypotheses Sarah, Kelly, Tina, Kyle, Nadia: Knocking on wood prevent bad things from happening Sarah, Kelly, Tina, Kyle, Nadia: Knocking on wood prevent bad things from happening Aaron, Julia, Megan, Xian Aaron, Julia, Megan, Xian Kate, Marielle, Kara, Suzanne: Fishing hat increases performance on tests. Kate, Marielle, Kara, Suzanne: Fishing hat increases performance on tests. Emily, Beth, Hollie, Andrea: A specific set of pens, pencils, and highlighters increases performance Emily, Beth, Hollie, Andrea: A specific set of pens, pencils, and highlighters increases performance

Blind Obedience Give an example of something you did in frosh week just because you were asked to do it Give an example of something you did in frosh week just because you were asked to do it Why are humans obedient? Why are humans obedient? Problems with obedience Problems with obedience Gwynn Dyer reports on his history of war that 40% of firearms on a battlefield have never been fired Gwynn Dyer reports on his history of war that 40% of firearms on a battlefield have never been fired How does military training make soldiers “obedient” to conduct a distasteful act, that is, kill other humans How does military training make soldiers “obedient” to conduct a distasteful act, that is, kill other humans What other actions are taken by a country getting ready to wage war on another country? What other actions are taken by a country getting ready to wage war on another country?

Group Formation Clue 1: "Our investigation shows that the event did involve nudity, degrading positions and behaviours, gagging, and touching in inappropriate manners with a broomstick, as well as verbal and physical intimidation……” Clue 1: "Our investigation shows that the event did involve nudity, degrading positions and behaviours, gagging, and touching in inappropriate manners with a broomstick, as well as verbal and physical intimidation……” What is this quote about? What is this quote about?

Clue 2: “………….of rookies by a large portion of the team," read the statement, which also noted that there was no evidence that anyone had been sodomized. ” Clue 2: “………….of rookies by a large portion of the team," read the statement, which also noted that there was no evidence that anyone had been sodomized. ” Any idea now? Any idea now?

Student quits McGill over hazing INGRID PERITZ From Friday's Globe and Mail, 23/09/05 Montreal — An 18-year-old football player has withdrawn from McGill University and is weighing criminal action after he said teammates put him through a degrading hazing ritual that involved getting down on all fours with a gag in his mouth and being anally prodded with a broom handle. Montreal — An 18-year-old football player has withdrawn from McGill University and is weighing criminal action after he said teammates put him through a degrading hazing ritual that involved getting down on all fours with a gag in his mouth and being anally prodded with a broom handle. The promising rookie, who had been recruited by McGill after playing for teams in Ontario and the United States, has returned home to Toronto. The promising rookie, who had been recruited by McGill after playing for teams in Ontario and the United States, has returned home to Toronto. “If these are the types of people at McGill, I will not associate with and be part of McGill,” said the rookie, who asked to remain anonymous but wants to make the incident known. “If these are the types of people at McGill, I will not associate with and be part of McGill,” said the rookie, who asked to remain anonymous but wants to make the incident known. The controversy at one of Canada's top universities has cast a spotlight on the normally hushed-up world of hazing and initiation rituals in college sports. According to the McGill Tribune, the ritual involving “Dr. Broom” is an annual rite at McGill. The controversy at one of Canada's top universities has cast a spotlight on the normally hushed-up world of hazing and initiation rituals in college sports. According to the McGill Tribune, the ritual involving “Dr. Broom” is an annual rite at McGill.