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Introduction. What is Psychology? Goals of Psychology Perspectives on Behavior. I. What Is Psychology. Psychology defined… The science of behavior and mental processes. (text) The scientific study of behavior and the factors that influence it. II. Goals of Psychology. To Observe
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Introduction • What is Psychology? • Goals of Psychology • Perspectives on Behavior
I. What Is Psychology Psychology defined… • The science of behavior and mental processes. (text) • The scientific study of behavior and the factors that influence it.
II. Goals of Psychology • To Observe • To Understand • To Predict • To Control/Influence
III. Perspectives on Behavior • Biological - Neuroscience, Evolutionary, Behavior Genetics • Psychodynamic • Behavioral • Cognitive • Sociocultural • Humanistic
Thinking Critically about Psychological Science • Two Approaches to Understanding Behavior • Scientific Attitudes • Steps in the Scientific Process • Defining and Measuring Variables • Methods of Research
I. Two Approaches to Understanding Behavior • World War II Survey
WW II Survey • Motivation to become officers was higher among White soldiers than Black soldiers. • During basic training, soldiers from rural backgrounds had higher moral and adapted better than soldiers from cities. • During combat, soldiers with higher IQs were more fearful and likely to develop psychological disorders than soldiers with lower IQs. • Soldiers serving in Europe were more highly motivated to go home while the war was going on than they were after the war had ended. (Duh!)
II. Scientific Attitudes • Curiosity • “Hmmm… I wonder why that is?” • Skepticism • “How exactly do you know that? • Humility • “Yes, it is possible I could be wrong.” • Openmindedness: • “That is an interesting possibility.”
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” -Albert Einstein
III. Steps in the Scientific Process • Initial Observation • Form Hypothesis (Usually based on Theory) • Test Hypothesis (Conduct Research) • Analyze Data • Further Research & Theory Building • Form and Test New Hypotheses
Hypotheses and Theories • Hypothesis • a testable prediction, often implied by a theory (typically takes an “If… then…” form) • Theory • An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations OR… • Formal statements that explain how and why events are related
Statistical Significance • Defined: A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result (in a study) occurred by chance. • If a result is “statistically significant,” this means that it is unlikely to have been caused by chance. (thus, something interesting is probably going on) • If a result is NOT statistically significant, this means that it is likely to have been caused by chance. (most likely nothing interesting is going on)
V. Methods of Research • Description • Correlation • Experimentation
Representative Samples and Random Selection • Survey sample needs to be representative • A representative sample closely matches the larger population on important characteristics • In other words, the sample is a miniature version of the population (Mini-Me versus Dr. Evil) • Representative samples are usually created using random selection • Each member of a population has an equal chance of being selected to be in the sample.
Biological Foundations of Behavior • Introduction • A Microscopic View: The Neuron • Basic Divisions of the Nervous System • A Macroscopic View: The Brain
Agonist • Defined: Any drug that enhances or helps the effect of a neurotransmitter. • Examples: • Cocaine and amphetamines are dopamine agonists • Nicotine is an acetylcholine (ACh) agonist
Antagonist • Defined: Any drug that counter acts or hinders the effect of a neurotransmitter. • Examples: • 1st schizophrenia medications were dopamine antagonists • botulinum toxin (botulism poisoning) is an acetylcholine (Ach) antagonist
B. Structures of the Brain • Hindbrain • Pons • Cerebellum • Medulla (Oblongata) • Midbrain • Reticular formation
B. Structures of the Brain • Forebrain • Thalamus • Hypothalamus • Hippocampus • Amygdala • Cerebral Cortex
Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex • Frontal • Voluntary movement, planning, speech production (Broca’s Area), working memory, impulse control • Parietal • Bodily sensations (touch, pain, coldness, etc…) • Occipital • Visual processing • Temporal • Auditory processing, speech comprehension (Wernicke’s Area)