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Chapter 1: The science of psychology (Vocabulary from textbook (culture…
Chapter 1: The science of psychology
Psychology: study of mind, brain, behavior
molecular --> neurochemical --> neurological/physiological --> mental --> behavioral --> social
Why is it difficult to study psychology
behavior is MULTIPLY DETERMINED
psych influences are RARELY INDEPENDENT
there are INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
human behavior is RECIPROCALLY DETERMINED
we constantly shape our environment that then shapes us back
CULTURE matters
culture norms: how people should behave
Psychology as a science
empiricism: premise that knowledge should be acquired through OBSERVATION
scientific theory: explanation for a large number of findings
hypothesis: testable prediction derived from theory
Science should protect us from bias
confirmation bias: seek out evidence that SUPPORTS our beliefs and DENY, DISMISS, DISTORT evidence that refutes them
belief perseverance: stick to initial beliefs even when evidence contradicts them
Boundaries of science
metaphysical claims: assertion about the world that's not testable (i.e. religion)
Pseudoscience
set of claims that SEEMS scientific but isn't
magical energy
ghosts
psychics
astrology
Why we care: isn't it harmless fun?
opportunity costs: what we give up
direct harm
inability to think SCIENTIFICALLY AS CITIZENS
How to think like a scientist
scientific skepticism: evaluate claims with an open mind but INSIST ON PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE before accepting them
critical thinking: evaluate claims in an open-minded and careful manner
Theoretical frameworks
structuralism (Titchener)
conscious experience can be broken down into its basic underlying components (STRUCTURES)
Functionalism (James)
ADAPTIVE PURPOSES (AKA THE FUNCTION) of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Behaviorism (Watson, Pavlov, Thorndike)
principles of LEARNING and observable OBJECTIVE measures
Cognitivism (Miller, Piaget, Neisser)
mental processes involved in thinking that influence behavior
Psychoanalysis (Freud)
bring unconscious contents into conscious awareness so that conflicts can be revealed (INTERNAL PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES)
Humanism (Rogers, Maslow)
free will, self-actualization
Gestalt theory (Wethemer)
the whole of personal experience is NOT the sum of its elements (the whole is different from the sum of its parts)
2 people can view something in 2 different ways
Vocabulary from textbook
culture
beliefs, values, rules, customs that exist within a group of people who share a language and environment
nature/nurture debate
are psychological characteristics biologically innate or acquired through education experience and culture?
mind/body problem
are mind and body separate and distinct or is the mind simply the physical brain's subjective experience?
introspection
examine subjective mental experiences that requires people to INSPECT and REPORT on the content of their thoughts
stream of consciousness
continuous series of ever-changing thoughts
evolutionary theory
species change over times
adaptations
physical characteristics, skills, abilities that increase chance of reproduction of survival, likely to be passed along to future generations
natural selection
those who inherit characteristics that help them adapt to their particular environments have an advantage over those who don't
unconscious
place where mental processes operate below the level of conscious awareness
humanistic psychology
basic goodness of people and how they become happier and more fulfilled
cognitive neuroscience
neural mechanisms underlying thought, learning, perception, language, memory
Subfields in psychology
biological
how bio systems give rise to mental activity
cognitive/neuroscience
attention, perception, memory, problem solving, language based on brain processes
developmental
how people change from infancy through old age
personality
enduring characteristics people display over time and across circumstances
social
how people are affected by others
cultural
how people are influenced by societal rules that dictate behavior in their cultures
clinical
factors that cause Psychological disorders/best ways to treat them
industrial/organizational
issues pertaining to industry and the workplace
Psychological levels of analysis
biological
brain systems, neurochemistry, genetics
individual
individual differences, perception and cognition, behavior
social
interpersonal behavior, social cognition
cultural
thoughts, actions, behaviors in different societies and cultural groups