Rough Notes - Chpt 1 Psych PDF

Sept 8th . Intro to Psych | Psych & Scientific Thinking What is Science: Systemic method to generate knowledge, that is capable of resulting in a reliable outcome OR an accurate prediction (As much as possible = despite uncertainty) Science is both the body of knowledge and a process (Of building...

Sept 8th . Intro to Psych | Psych & Scientific Thinking What is Science: Systemic method to generate knowledge, that is capable of resulting in a reliable outcome OR an accurate prediction (As much as possible = despite uncertainty) Science is both the body of knowledge and a process (Of building this body of evidence) Answer the following: ALL FALSE Most people use only about 10% of their brain Hypnosis enhances the accuracy of the brain The Lie-Detector Test is 90-95% accurate Opposites attract/Opposite Personalities attract Outline 1.What is Psychology 2.Historical Roots of Psychology 3.Trends in the Development of Psychology 3a.Individual Differences hint 3b.Theoretical Perspectives -Structuralism -> structure of Cognitive -Functionalism -Behaviourism -Cognitivism -Psychodynamic Theory(of Freud) 4.Fields of Psychology Psychology: -Scientific study of the mind, brain and behaviour -Levels of analysis -Biological to social -(Psych=. ,ology=study of) Psychology: -Scientific study of the cause of behaviour. It is also the application of the findings of psychological research to the solution of problems Levels of Analysis: Social Culture Influences: (Gender roles.. includes relating to others and personal relationships) Psychological: Mental or neurological level (thoughts, feels, emotions, executive functioning) Biological: Molecular/Neurochemical level (brain structure, molecular breakdown) Goal of Psychologicial Research Understand the human behaviour OR explain the whys of individyals’ actions How do Psychologists explain behaviour 1.Describle 2.Categorize 3.Measure (questionnaires, bloodwork, urine samples, self-reports) Historical Roots of Psychology 1.Philosophy: 2 Main questions -Are the body and the mind connected or distinct? -Are we born with our abilities or do we acquire them (by learning)? 2.Biology: -Theory of specific nerve energies (or of neural coding) -Localization of function: Broca’s Area (Aphasia) a)Ablation b)Looking at existing brain damage Ex of Biopsychological Research: Psychoneurological Research, Cognitive Neuroscience Lecture 2: Psychology & Scientific Thinking (cont.) Margin of Error:(smaller the better) to trust findings & generalize to the population Research methods: speak to sample methods (take representative sample of population) —> Just like tasting recipe before serving - if tastes salty, will likely taste salty for all servings so long as mixed well Historical Roots of Psychology 1.Philosophy: 2 Main questions -Are the body and the mind connected or distinct? -Are we born with our abilities or do we acquire them (by learning)? 2.Biology: -Theory of specific nerve energies (or of neural coding) -Localization of function: Broca’s Area (Aphasia) a)Ablation destroy purt or brains look dimonet b)Looking at existing brain damage ⑤animals - , Ex of Biopsychological Research: Psychoneurological Research, Cognitive Neuroscience Each sensory nerve informs us about the source of stimuli- our mind has access not to objects, but to our nerves Broca’s Area - discovered that there is an area in the left frontal lobe, related to speech production - if had a stroke, would struggle with speech production - can still interpret and idea the speech Roots of Psychology - Philosophy · Mind and body connected (Monism) or distinct (Dualism)? · Monism: Any philosophy which holds unity in a given field - ex. Believing in 1 God Dualism: 2 in 1 - Scientists believe that distinct · Dualism (Distinct): -Socrates (Greek philosopher) -Plato (Greek Philosopher and Mathemitician) Mind is separate from the body Rene Descartes: -Agrees with Socrates and Plato -Animal spirits flow from the brain through the nerves -Mental processes reside in the pineal gland (Endo. Sys: Produces melatonin - sleep/wake cycle) Monism (Connected): (Philosophy-Aristotle (Student of Plato, teacher of Alexander the Great) The mind is not separate from the body Tabula Rasa: Born blank sheet: experiences encountered are Are we born with our abilities/qualities? impressed upon the mind Nativism (Nature) Empiricism (Nurture) Genetic preprogramming Tabula Rasa (Aristotle) Learning is based on innate Learning occurs through predispositions experiences Experience still needs to occur Learning occurs through associations Epigenetics: Always in environment that can turn on/off genes. Ex. salivating turned on by the presence/thought of food, not on at all time Ex. Traumatizing events don’t affect everyone similarly Roots of Psychology - Biology Johannesburg Muller: Theory of specific Nerve Energies -Father of Experimental Physiology 1.All nerves send an identical message (electrical impulse) 2.Different kinds of information travel on different channels (visual, auditory) 3.Different brain areas: (have different functions) Different nerve fibres that contain different info Marie-Jean-Pierre Flourens: Experimental Ablation -Removing parts of the brain (of. Animals) -Observe lost/impaired function -Heart rate, breathing, etc. Paul Broca: Patient (TAN) -Had a. Stroke -Had Difficulty speaking -Telegraphic speech Autopsied Brain -Revealed damaged area Concluded this area (left frontal lobe) was responsible for speech Lecture 3 - Trends in Development Of Psychology 3a. Individual Differences Sir Francis Galton (1922-1911) -Cousin of Darwin Human abilities are genetically determined Came up with: 1. Phrase “nature vs. Nurture” (Ex. If child acts out, believes bases on genetics) 2. Eugenics (‘good birth’) • (Often led to abuse) study/practices that aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population - ex.encourage ppl of certain traits to give birth, discouraging certain ppl from repopulating (those with diseases) • Ex. Nazi Germany • Good ex, genetic counselling 3. Psychometric • Science of measuring mental faculties 4. Statistical concept of correlation • Association of two variable: ex. Correlation btwn smoking/ perceived stress levels - existence of one might influence other but not cause • Correlation not = Causation 5. Concept of “Regression toward the mean” (in statistics) • If variable = measured twice, if extreme first time, tends to be closer to average the second time (less extreme) - goldilocks • Statistical Tendency. Not just factorial impact 3b. Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology • How can we explain behaviour? • Five Primary Schools of Thought that have Shaped Modern Psychology: (each provided valuable info) 1. Structuralism: William Wundt & E.B Titchner Aim: Identify the most fundamental elements of psychological experience Structuralism studies STRUCTURE/elements of the mind/ consciousness Wundt=Father of Psychology (1832-1920) Focus:Structure of human mind Method: Introspection and its limits (internal dialogue) Introspection=looking within; Required trained observers to reflect on their mental experiences Limits: Often lack awareness - difficult to verify, issue with research pleasing Ex. Internal Motivation to succeed - Why? Experiment: Wundt established first psychological lab (1879) - Distinguished Psychology from Philosophy Hint: school of psych, name of it, aim, those associated & diff btwn 2. Functionalism William James (influenced by Charles Darwin) Aim: Understand FUNCTION of Psychological Characteristics James rejected/saw limits of structuralism bc consciousness cannot be broken down into elements More concerned with ongoing consciousness and functions of processes rather than structure - function, behaviour, and purpose. (Adaptability/application) Influenced scientific method - absorbed into mainstream psychology Ex. Function of Kindness and its impact Natural Selection: Species adapt to environment (engine of evolution) Emphasize characteristics best suited for survival 3. Behaviourism Who: Watson and Skinner Aim: Uncover general laws of LEARNING by focusing on external OBSERVABLE elements Have view that only behaviour can be studied, not introspection - but observed and qualitative/quantitative behaviour Believe only environment not genetics that can impact… Impact: Influence on scientific psychology - reaction time of animal… Reaction to lack of progress using introspection Rejected Introspection altogether Focus on Behaviour (measurable) Instead of mental representations, consciousness, inner mental states Condition = Learnning Learning associations between stimuli (classical conditioning) -associating specific classroom with the class you take in there Learning associations between stimuli and responses (operant conditioning) -Punishment or reward: Motivates dis/continuance of actions School of Psychology founded by John Watson 4. Cognitivism Swiss Psychologist Piaget (1896-1980) and German Psych. Neisser (1928-2012) Aim: Understand mental processes underlying thinking in variety of contexts Impact: helped understand physiological basis of memory, thinking, etc. Argued Behaviourism is also based on cognitivism Motivation does not only come w reward: but with contemplation/internal value Piaget: Intellectual development of Children (4 Stages) - Developmental Psych. Neisser: Focused on Perception and Memory 5. Psychoanalysis Freud (1856-1939) Psychoanalytic theory developed by Sigmund Freud and Jung Aim: Uncover internal (unconscious) processes we are unaware of Psychoanalysis therapy - Focused on unconscious conflicts, motives, and defences Freud - Focused on internal psychological processes, unconscious thoughts, dream analysis, sexual desires, Freudian slips (slip of the tongue) Psychoanalysis suggests everyday lives are filled w/ symbols that represent our fears (Symbols of passed loved ones being w/ us) Summary of Structuralism: Functionalism: Behaviourism: Cognitivism Psychoanalysis Fields of Psychology Modern Psychology: Diversity: 500, 000 psychologists worldwide Biological: • Neurosciences • Health Medical Cross-Cultural Psychology: Cultures impact on behaviour. B