Lecture 1 Flashcards
Define psychology
The scientific study of behaviour and the mind
Define behaviour
Directly observable activity (actions, responses, …)
Define mind
Internal state and mental processes (thinking, motivation, …)
What are the 4 goals of psychology
- Describe behaviour and mental processes
- Explain/understand causes of behaviour
- Predict behaviour
- Influence/control behaviour under certain conditions
Define basic research
Knowledge for its own sake at a fundamental level
Define applied research
Solutions to practical problems. Giving a real world purpose for the fundamental knowledge
Which is done first: Basic research or applied research?
It can go either way. It is most common to start with basic research
What are the three primary levels of causal factors addressed in modern psychology
- Biological factors (at a chemical level)
- Psychological factors (at a cognitive level)
- Environmental factors (influences)
Define the scientific method
Involves systematically gathering and evaluating empirical evidence
Define empirical
Gained through experience and observation
What is a benefit to using the scientific method?
Helps minimize bias and provides a useful framework that can help solve specific practical problems
Define folk psychology
The commonly held beliefs the average person has about people, psychological processes, and behaviour
What method of information gathering does folk psychology rely on?
Observation (often it is indirect and draws on anecdotal evidence)
Is folk psychology reliable?
Not typically
What are the three common errors of judgement
- Relying on heuristics
- Failing to consider alternate explanations
- Confirmation bias
What are heuristics?
Mental shortcuts
Ex. Believing that higher price is equal to better quality
Define confirmation bias
Selectively looking for evidence that confirms your prior believes. Choosing points in an argument that make you right and ignoring the rest
Define critical thinking
Taking an active role in evaluating the information you’re presented with
How effective is the persuasion of neuroimaging
It was found that when people see pictures of brain scans in articles it gives them more credibility than the articles that just explain through words
