Psychology Study Notes PDF

### **Psychology: A Conversation** What's Humanism all about?\ It's a response to earlier approaches like psychoanalysis and behaviorism, which some people felt ignored the human side of things. Humanism puts the spotlight on freedom and personal growth---traits that make us unique. Who started it...

### **Psychology: A Conversation** What's Humanism all about?\ It's a response to earlier approaches like psychoanalysis and behaviorism, which some people felt ignored the human side of things. Humanism puts the spotlight on freedom and personal growth---traits that make us unique. Who started it?\ Two big names: Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. Oh, what did they do? - - And Humanistic Psychology in general?\ It's all about boosting personal growth and unlocking human potential. Therapists use it to help people become more self-aware and improve themselves. What about Cognitive Psychology?\ It's the study of how we think, remember, and solve problems. Think of it as studying the brain's "software." Who started it?\ The term was coined by Ulric Neisser in 1967. How does it work? - - Why is it important?\ Cognitive psychology is a big deal today---it shapes how we understand and study the mind. What's Psychobiology or Neuroscience about?\ It looks at how the brain's structure and activity affect behavior. Any notable researchers here? - - Any subfields? - - So, what's psychology like today?\ It's both a science and a profession. - - What areas do psychologists study? - - What are the branches of psychology? 1. 2. 3. How do psychologists train for this?\ Most specialize with doctoral degrees that combine research, teaching, and practical applications. In a nutshell:\ Psychology explores the mind and behavior, with a focus on improving lives through research, teaching, and practical work! CHAPTER 2 What's the deal with correlation and causation? Well, imagine you hear that stress and depression are strongly connected. Does that mean stress causes depression? Not necessarily! It could also mean: Depression causes stress. Or maybe something else, like poverty, causes both stress and depression. So, correlation doesn't mean one thing causes the other---there's more to figure out! How do researchers figure out cause and effect then? They use experiments and analyze the results with statistics! Okay, what's the first step? Start with descriptive statistics: The mean is just the average of all scores. The standard deviation tells you how much the scores differ from each other. And then? Move on to inferential statistics to draw conclusions! Researchers ask, "Are these differences real, or did they happen by chance?" They use tests like t-tests or ANOVAs to calculate a p-value. What's a p-value? It's the probability that the results happened by chance. If the p-value is less than 0.05, the results are likely meaningful---not random! What happens after the experiment? The work isn't over yet! Replication: Repeating the study to make sure the findings weren't a fluke. Publishing: Sharing results in scientific journals. Building theories: When results are consistent, they help create new theories or laws. Is all research ethical? It has to be! Researchers follow strict ethical guidelines. What are some rules for human research? Informed Consent: Participants need to know what they're signing up for, including risks and benefits. Protection: Keep participants safe and comfortable, and protect their privacy. Voluntary Participation: No one should be forced to participate. Deception: If researchers can't give full details upfront, they must explain everything afterward in a debriefing. What about research with animals? The Canadian Council on Animal Care makes sure animals are treated humanely. Rules include: Use animals only if it benefits humans or animals. Try alternatives first. Keep pain and distress to a minimum.