Topic 1 Flashcards
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental process.
Descrives, predicts, and explains human behavior and mental process
Psychology past and present
Originally considered a part of philosophy
Formally begin in late 19th century
5 Primary schools of thought
Structuralism
Functionalism
Behaviorism
Cognitivism
Psychoanalysis
Structuralism
Wilhelm Wundt and E.B Titchener
Wundt credidted as founder
Established 1st psychology lab
understand the structure and characteristics of the mind through introspection
Emphasized systematic observation to study consciousness
Functionalism
Willam James - 1st American psych
Drew from the functionality of the cognitive process, establishing functionalism
What the mind does and how behavior functions
Perspectives influenced by the theory of natural selection
Psychodynamic
Found by Sigmund Freud
Studies hysteria & neurosis
Theorized that many of his patient’s problems arose from the unconscious mind
access the unconscious mind through dream analysis
Focuses on the role of the person unconscious in early childhood experiences
Behaviorism
John B. Watson (Father of behaviorism):
- believed that objective analysis of the mind was impossible
- instead focuses on observable behavior and ways to control it
- used today in behavioral therapy and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
B. F skinner:
- Constructed on how behavior was affected by its consequences
- studied the principles of modifying behavior through reinforcement and punishment which he saw as major factors in driving behavior
Cognitivism
Piaget and Neisser
understand mental processes underlying thinking
thinking affects our behavior - not about reward or punishment but about interpretation
How do we learn
Authority
Observation
Reason
Scientific method
Identify question of interest
Formulate explaination
Carry out research to support/refute
Scientific theory
Explantion for a large number of findings in the natural world
Testable prediction is called a hypothesis
Bias Awareness
best scienttist are aware of their biases
Confirmation Bias
Tendency to see out evidence that supports our hypothesis
neglecting or distorting contrary evidence
Belief Perseverance
Tendency to stick to our initial belief even when evidence is contradictory
The “don’t confuse me with facts” bias
Psychological Pseudosience
Set claims that seem scientific but lack defenses from bias
Imposters of science
Pseudoscience (Warning signs)
use of psychobabble
Lack of self-concern
Overreliance on anecdotal evidence
Extraodinary claims without extraordinary evidence
Our attraction to pseudoscience
paternity:
- Tendency to detect meaningful patterns in random stimuli
Finding comfort in our own beliefs:
- terror management theory
- we experience anxiety because we know death is inevitable
- to manage anxiety we see worldviews that provide meaning
Antidote for Pseudoscience
thinking scientifucally
Separate science from pseudoscience
avoid common logical fallacies
Common logical fallacies
Emotional reasoning fallacy: using emotions rather than evidence
Bandwagon fallacy: Lots of people belive it so it must be true
Not me fallacy: other people have those biases, not me
Dangers of Pseudoscience
Opportunity cost: investing, time, energy …
Direct harm: sometimes do direct harm to those who receive
Blocks critical thinking: one domain spills over into other critical issues
Critical thinking
set of skills to evaluate claims open-mindedly and carefully
Six principles of scientific thinking
Ruling out rival hypotheses:
- Important alternate explanations should be considered
Correlation Vs Causation:
- we can’t be sure variable A causes variable B
Falsifiability:
- Can this claim be disproven
- good theories are sometimes bold and can be proven wrong
Replicability:
- is it possible to duplicate scientific findings
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence;
- is evidence as convincing as the claim
Occam’s Razor
- Does a simpler explanation for the data exist
Modern Psycology
Experimental psychology:
- Research focuses
Clinical Psychology:
- treatment, assessment diagnosis
- Science practitioner model
How psychology affects our lives
Basic Research:
- Examines how the mind works
Applied Research:
- Utilizes the research in everyday life to solve real-world problems
