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What is Psychology?

What is Psychology?. 8 essentials. Greek Letter psi. Basic definitions. Psychology The science of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical and emotional state and external environment. Basic definitions. Empirical evidence

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What is Psychology?

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  1. What is Psychology? 8 essentials

  2. Greek Letter psi

  3. Basic definitions • Psychology • The science of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical and emotional state and external environment.

  4. Basic definitions • Empirical evidence • Relying on observation, experimentation, or measurement

  5. What it is NOT! • psychobabble • Pseudoscience & quakery covered by a veneer of things that SOUND psychological. • How many products can you think of that play off of this?

  6. What it is NOT! Its not common knowledge (at least unsupported) Its not quick fixes to life’s problems It often does not confirm our beliefs (but rather challenges them)

  7. Critical Thinking 8 essentials

  8. 8 essentials to Critical Thinking • 1- Ask Questions • Be willing to wonder “why”

  9. 8 essentials to Critical Thinking • 2- define your terms • Operational definitions are very important • you will see this over and over • Are you fast? • Depends on what you mean by fast?

  10. 8 essentials to Critical Thinking • 3- Examine the evidence • I’m right and you will never change my mind, so why don’t you just SHUT UP! • Be sure to examine the evidence BEFORE you make your decision • Be sure to examine all evidence • Need to way the evidence • Consider the amount of evidence • Consider the source of the evidence

  11. 8 essentials to Critical Thinking • 4- Analyze assumptions and biases • Assumptions are beliefs taken for granted • They are important for functioning • However, if they keep us from considering things fairly, they lead to a BIAS.

  12. 8 essentials to Critical Thinking • 5- Avoid Emotional Reasoning • “Gut feelings” are powerful • Useful when they cause us to look real hard for evidence to support our cause • But can harm if they cause us to ignore evidence because we don’t like it or agree with it • This is done all the time in regards to people’s political ideology.

  13. 8 essentials to Critical Thinking • 6-Don’t oversimplify • Most common one is making arguments by anecdotes • My uncle cheated on my aunt therefore all men cheat. • Good critical thinkers want more evidence than one or two examples before making sweeping conclusions.

  14. 8 essentials to Critical Thinking • 7- Consider other interpretations • Good critical thinkers generate many reasonable explanations before settling on the most likely one • Depression causes cancer- True or False. • Maybe depressed people drink or smoke a lot. • Maybe people got cancer first, didn’t know it, and it caused depression.

  15. 8 essentials to Critical Thinking • 8- Tolerate Uncertainty • Sometimes there is little or no evidence presently available • Perhaps we can only make tentative conclusions • Does God Exist?

  16. 8 essentials to Critical Thinking • Critical thinking is a process • It takes time to develop good critical thinking skills • Work hard, but be patient!

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