Chapter 1 What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes What does that mean? What does that mean?

History of Psychology Wave One- Introspection Wave One- Introspection

Wilhelm Wundt st Psychology Lab

Wave One Continued William James William James Structuralism Structuralism

Wave Two-Gestalt Psychology WHOLE EXPERIENCE WHOLE EXPERIENCE

Sigmund Freud Unconscious motives

Ivan Pavlov

John Watson

B. F. Skinner

Contemporary Waves

Psychological Approaches Biological approach Biological approach

Behavioral Approach Observable behavior

Cognitive Approach Looking at behavior in terms of how we interpret, process and remember environmental events Looking at behavior in terms of how we interpret, process and remember environmental events

Humanistic Approach Stressed individual choice and free will Stressed individual choice and free will People make their own choices People make their own choices

Psychodynamic or Psychoanalytic Approach Unconscious mind controls what we do Unconscious mind controls what we do

Sociocultural Approach Culture Culture Gender Gender Schema Schema Social Norms Social Norms

Research Strategies

The Scientific Method Theory – an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations Theory – an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations Hypothesis – a testable prediction, often implied by a theory Hypothesis – a testable prediction, often implied by a theory

The Case Study One or more individuals One or more individuals Freud and Piaget Freud and Piaget Individual cases can suggest fruitful ideas Individual cases can suggest fruitful ideas You can make generalizations You can make generalizations

The Survey Used in descriptive and correlative studies Used in descriptive and correlative studies People are to report opinions or behaviors People are to report opinions or behaviors Wording is very important Wording is very important Choose clear questions (yes or no)Choose clear questions (yes or no) No ambiguous questionsNo ambiguous questions

Naturalistic Observation Observing organisms in their natural environment Observing organisms in their natural environment

Correlation Statistical measure of relationship Statistical measure of relationship It reveals how closely two things are related It reveals how closely two things are related Does one predict the other Does one predict the other Positive correlation indicates a direct relationship between the two Positive correlation indicates a direct relationship between the two Negative correlation indicates an inverse relationship Negative correlation indicates an inverse relationship

Positive Correlation

Negative Correlative

Correlation Continued Illusory Correlation-a perceived correlation that does not exist Illusory Correlation-a perceived correlation that does not exist Correlation may hint at cause – effect relationships but it does not provide a causal explanation Correlation may hint at cause – effect relationships but it does not provide a causal explanation

Longitudinal Studies Studying the same group of people over a period of years to determine whether their behavior and/or feelings have changed and if so, how. Studying the same group of people over a period of years to determine whether their behavior and/or feelings have changed and if so, how.

Cross-Sectional Studies Psychologists organize individuals into groups on the basis of age Psychologists organize individuals into groups on the basis of age These groups are randomly sampled, and the members of each group are surveyed, tested or observed simultaneously These groups are randomly sampled, and the members of each group are surveyed, tested or observed simultaneously

Experimentation To isolate cause and effect-to explain what helps cause events or behavior- psychologists conduct experiments To isolate cause and effect-to explain what helps cause events or behavior- psychologists conduct experiments Experiments enable a researcher to focus on the possible effects of one or more factors by 1)manipulating the factors of interest 2)holding constant (controlling) other factors Experiments enable a researcher to focus on the possible effects of one or more factors by 1)manipulating the factors of interest 2)holding constant (controlling) other factors

Parts of the Experiment Experimental condition-the condition of an experiment that exposes subjects to the treatment Experimental condition-the condition of an experiment that exposes subjects to the treatment Control condition-the condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental treatment and serves as an evaluator for the effect of the treatment Control condition-the condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental treatment and serves as an evaluator for the effect of the treatment

Random Assignment Assigning subjects by chance Assigning subjects by chance NOTE: Random sampling helps us generalize to a larger population- random assignment control extraneous influences, which helps us infer cause and effect NOTE: Random sampling helps us generalize to a larger population- random assignment control extraneous influences, which helps us infer cause and effect

Sampling False consensus effect-tendency to over-estimate others agreement with us False consensus effect-tendency to over-estimate others agreement with us Population-total group you wish to evaluate (target group) Population-total group you wish to evaluate (target group) Random Sample-each member has an equal chance to be selected Random Sample-each member has an equal chance to be selected

Sampling Continued Representative Sample-choosing members whose characteristics correspond to the characteristics of the population Representative Sample-choosing members whose characteristics correspond to the characteristics of the population

Dependent Variable The behavior or mental process that is being measure-the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable The behavior or mental process that is being measure-the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable Brain power is increased by drinking water Brain power is increased by drinking water

Operational Definitions A statement of the procedures used to define research variables A statement of the procedures used to define research variables Answer the “What do you mean?” question Answer the “What do you mean?” question

Placebo An inert substance or condition that may be administered instead of a presumed active agent (such as a drug) An inert substance or condition that may be administered instead of a presumed active agent (such as a drug)

Double-Blind Procedure An experimental procedure in which both the subject and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the subject has received the treatment or placebo An experimental procedure in which both the subject and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the subject has received the treatment or placebo

Other Psychology Questions Laboratory Experiments Laboratory Experiments Does the laboratory experiment have an external validity? Does the laboratory experiment have an external validity? In others words, does it predict behavior in real life? In others words, does it predict behavior in real life?

Independent Variable Experimental factor that is manipulated Experimental factor that is manipulated Drinking water increases brain power! Drinking water increases brain power!

Culture and Behaviors Shared ideas and behaviors are passed on from one generation to the next Shared ideas and behaviors are passed on from one generation to the next Underlying processes are the same Underlying processes are the same

Gender Issues Biology determines our sex Biology determines our sex Culture further bends the genders Culture further bends the genders

Animal Studies Is it ethical to Experiment on animals? Is it ethical to Experiment on animals?

Is the Study of Psychology Dangerous?