1. PSY100Y - Introduction to Psychology
Instructor: Dr. Dax Urbszat,
B.Sc., L.L.B., M.A., Ph. D.
Office: Room 4093 Sidney Smith Hall
Office hours: Wednesdays 1:00-3:00

2. Psychology Psyche – “soul” Logos – “to study”
Wilhelm Wundt (1870s) combines the disciplines of philosophy and physiology

3. What is Psychology? Psychology is the scientific study of behavior.
“anything an animal or human does, feels, or thinks.”
Psychology is a science firmly based in empirical research.
Psychology has broad application.

4. Major Perspectives Biological Psychoanalytic Behavioral Humanistic
Cognitive
Evolutionary

5. Major Areas of Research
Social
Physiological
Cognitive/Perception
Personality/Abnormal
Developmental
Psychometrics
Health
Forensics

6. Professional Practice
Experimental/Academic
Clinical
Counseling
Educational
Industrial Organization
Sports
Forensics

7. Psychological Themes Psychology is empirical
Psychology is theoretically driven
Psychology evolves in a socio-historic context
Behavior is determined by multiple causes
Behavior is shaped by cultural heritage
Heredity and environment jointly influence behavior
People’s experience of the world is highly subjective

8. Improving Academic Performance
Read chapters before class
Come to every lecture
Print and read powerpoint slides before lectures
Developing sound study habits
Scheduling (list making)
- implementation intentions
Study without distractions
Reward your studying

9. Improving Your Reading
Survey
Question
Read
Recite
Review

10. Getting More Out of Lectures
Read chapters before class
Try to listen more than write
Put ideas in your own words
Ask questions
Try not to be passive learner

11. Improve Test Taking Set a schedule
Answer all the questions you know first and skip the ones you are not sure of till later
Keep it simple
Review (leave a few minutes in your schedule for this)

12. Multiple Choice Exams Try to anticipate the answer
Always read the entire question
Eliminate implausible options
Broad sweeping generalizations tend to be incorrect
Carefully qualified statements tend to be correct

13. Essay Exams Make time allocations based on marks and your knowledge
ORGANIZE – do a brief outline
Number points or use headings
Use catch words and technical terminology