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What is one key method emphasized in learning to enhance retention of information?
Which of the following aspects is NOT part of the learning objectives for this course?
What type of questions can students expect on the exam for the course?
In the context of psychological learning strategies, which of the following is considered ineffective?
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Which lecture format is not explicitly mentioned as part of the course offerings?
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What philosophical debate is exemplified by Laura and her partner's discussion regarding the development of their baby's intelligence?
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Which statement best describes the distinction between behavior and mind in psychological science?
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What does the term 'psychological science' primarily focus on?
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In the context of psychological inquiry, which of the following best illustrates 'levels of analysis'?
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Which aspect of human experience is least directly observable according to psychological concepts?
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Study Notes
Minor Psychology in Society Course
- Consists of 5 ECTS courses, some mandatory, others by choice
- The course covers a range of topics including Introduction to Psychological Theories, Research instruments critically considered, The Social Psychology of communication, Psychology in the workplace, Human error, Social influence, and Consumer and economic psychology.
How to Make the Most of the Course
- It is recommended to read the assigned chapter before class, study the slides and listen to lectures, participate in demonstrations and discuss topics with classmates.
How to Pass the Course
- The course is assessed through an exam consisting of multiple choice and short answer questions.
- Prepare by studying lectures and assigned chapters.
What is Psychological Science?
- The study of mind, brain, and behavior through research, aimed at understanding and predicting both behavior and mental activity.
- Mind refers to mental activity, perceptual experiences, memories, thoughts, and feelings, which are not directly observable.
- Behavior refers to observable actions.
Different Levels of Studying Psychology
- Psychology can be studied at various levels, including groups vs. individuals, behavior vs. brain activity, and nature vs. nurture.
- These different levels of study complement each other, providing insights into human behavior.
Early Roots of Psychology
- Dualism: Descartes' concept of separating the mind/soul from the body.
- Nature vs. Nurture debate: This debate explores the relative contributions of genetics and environment in shaping human behavior.
Schools of Thought in Psychology
- Structuralism: Emphasizes the reduction of complex mental processes into simpler components.
- Functionalism: Focuses on the adaptive functions of mind and behavior, emphasizing its complexity beyond simple elements.
- Psychoanalytical approach: Studies the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior, pioneered by Freud.
- Behaviorism: Primarily concerned with observable behavior and its environmental influences, prominent figures include Watson and Skinner.
- Gestalt: Based on the idea that perception is guided by a few basic principles that create a coherent whole from visual input, represented by the phrase "the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts."
- Humanistic psychology: Focuses on human potential, achieving goals, and finding fulfillment, emphasizing values, creativity, quality of relationships, gratitude, and faith.
- Cognitivism: Explores mental processes, influenced by computer science advancements, with cognitive neuroscience focusing on observable brain activity to understand mental functions
The Scientific Method
- Based on experience, observation, existing theories, etc.
- Formulates questions and predictions.
- Tests predictions with real-world measurements.
- Draws conclusions about the support or lack of support for predictions.
Common Biases and the Importance of the Scientific Method
- Optimism bias: The tendency to overestimate our abilities compared to others.
- Dunning-Kruger effect: The tendency for individuals with low competence to overestimate their abilities.
- Availability heuristic: Judging the probability of an event based on its ease of recall or imagination.
- The Birthday Paradox: Demonstrates the difficulty of understanding how rare events can occur due to exponential growth, often leading to misjudgments.
- The scientific method helps to overcome these biases and provides a more objective and reliable way to study human behavior.
Critical Thinking and Psychology
- It is important to consume psychological science with "amiable skepticism".
Contemporary Psychology
- Current advancements in psychology include the study of the biological (evolutionary) basis of behavior.
- Significant strides are being made in the fields of big data, computational models, and even artificial intelligence.
- Culture increasingly plays a key role in psychological research.
- Interdisciplinary approaches, combining different levels of analysis, are becoming more common.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts from the Minor Psychology in Society course, including psychological theories, communication, workplace psychology, and consumer behavior. It will help students prepare for exams and enhance their understanding of the subject. Engage with the material to test your knowledge and improve your performance in the course.
