Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology

• Psychology is the study of mental processing, including thoughts, feelings, motivations, and behaviors like actions, reactions, and habits.

Branches of Psychology

• Clinical psychology addresses mental health and disorders.
• Developmental psychology studies lifespan changes in behavior.
• Social psychology examines the influence of social factors.
• Cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes and thinking.

Careers in Psychology

• Clinical psychologists specialize in diagnosis, treatment, and research.
• Developmental psychologists focus on understanding growth and change throughout life.
• Social psychologists study the impact of social forces, group dynamics, attitudes, and prejudice.
• Cognitive psychologists explore mental processes like attention, memory, and problem-solving.
• Organizational psychologists apply psychology to the workplace through employee selection, training, and productivity.
• Forensic psychologists apply psychology in the legal system, including criminal profiling, witness testimony, and jury selection.

Psychiatrists vs. Psychologists

• Psychiatrists are medical doctors able to prescribe medication.
• Psychologists focus on non-medical treatments.

Science Inquiry Skills & Scientific Method

• Observation involves identifying a question to investigate.
• A hypothesis formulates an explanation.
• Experimentation involves designing and conducting tests.
• Analysis involves interpreting results.

Variables in Research

• The independent variable is the factor a researcher changes and manipulates, often forming the basis for results.
• The dependent variable is what is measured and is changed by the independent variable.
• A controlled variable is a factor kept constant during an experiment.

Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is an idea or explanation based on observations.

Ethical Guidelines in Research

• Informed consent requires participants to understand and agree to the research.
• Confidentiality protects participants' personal information.
• Protection from harm ensures research does not cause harm or distress.
• Debriefing involves explaining the study's purpose afterward.
• Participants have the right to withdraw from the experiment at any time.

Importance of Ethics in Research

• Ethics protect participants, maintain integrity, build trust, and guide decision-making.

Experimental vs. Non-Experimental Research

• Experimental research investigates cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating independent variables and observing their effect on dependent variables in a controlled environment.
• Non-experimental research observes phenomena as they naturally occur, and focuses on descriptive or correlational relationships rather than establishing cause and effect.

Biological Psychology: Brain Lobes

• The frontal lobe is responsible for decision-making, planning, and personality.
• The parietal lobe integrates sensory information and processes touch, temperature, and pain.
• The temporal lobe is responsible for auditory processing and memory.
• The occipital lobe processes visual information.

Structures of the Brain

• The forebrain is in charge of complex cognition, conscious processing, and emotional regulation.
• The midbrain is in charge of visual/auditory processing and motor coordination.
• The hindbrain is responsible for basic survival functions and automatic processes.
• The corpus callosum is a neural bridge that transfers information between both halves of the brain.
• The brain stem controls vital functions, including breathing, heart rate, temperature, swallowing, and maintaining consciousness.
• The cerebellum controls movement precision, balance control, posture, and cognitive functions like language and emotional regulation.
• The hippocampus controls learning, memory, and spatial navigation.
• The amygdala processes emotions and emotional memory.

Phineas Gage Case Study

• Gage experienced a personality change, becoming more impulsive and irrational, with reduced social interaction capacity after an iron rod went through his head, damaging his frontal lobe.
• The case provided early insights into the functions of the brain and frontal lobe.

Roger Sperry's Research

• Sperry found that the two hemispheres of the brain have specialized functions and can operate independently when the corpus callosum is damaged.
• The left hemisphere is more focused on abstract and analytical thought.
• The right hemisphere is more focused on spatial patterns and complex sounds like music.