The Science of Psychology PDF

The Science of Psychology 9/9/24 Monday, September 9, 2024 11:20 AM The Science of Psychology Study/Explanation of: - Behavior ○ Outward or overt actions and reactions - Brain - Mental process ○ Internal, covert activity of our minds Goals of Psychology 1. Describe...

The Science of Psychology 9/9/24 Monday, September 9, 2024 11:20 AM The Science of Psychology Study/Explanation of: - Behavior ○ Outward or overt actions and reactions - Brain - Mental process ○ Internal, covert activity of our minds Goals of Psychology 1. Describe a. If (A) happens, then (B) happens b. Patterns or Data present 2. Explain a. Theories b. Why does (A) and (B) keep cooccurring? c. Observation 3. Predict a. "After (A), (B) will come next…" b. Will it happen again? c. Testing the theory 4. Control a. If the evidence is very consistent/happening multiple times b. Develop theories behind it, if it is so useful to help with it, we can use it to manage (A) and (B) c. Ex: We can learn how to manage addiction if we go through all the steps and come up with a theory that can help us understand and help with addiction/sobriety Level of Analysis - Different perspectives about behavior - Each level of explanation offers a perspective in describing, explaining, and predicting behavior - Perspectives: ○ Cultural § Celebration = birthday cake/sweets § Food is associated with celebrations/festivities/events, especially sweets ○ Social § Most of the tambayan areas you stay in with friends have sweets ○ Behavioral § Consume more of what you want because it is more attainable/accessible § Eat more sweets than usual because it is so easy to buy in the mall ○ Cognitive § Cravings (e.g. food, shopping, substances, etc.) § Associating pleasure experience with whatever you are craving for and looking back at that feeling ○ Physiological § Signals coming from the brain that triggers the urge to eat sweets - In summary, all of these perspectives enable the consumption of sweets depending on the circumstances/influences relating to what was given above Challenges in Psychology - Multiply-determined ○ Caused by many factors - Psychological influences are rarely independent from each other （difficicut to individualize) - Individual differences (ex. The way people think/feel/personality/behavior/etc.） - People often influence each other - Behavior is often shaped in powerful ways by culture Challenges in Common Sense (and hearsay/common superstitions) - Opposites attract ○ Things are more long-term and have better relationships with similar couples ○ We are more attracted with those similar to us ○ Proven by research - There is a definite number of neurons in our lifetime ○ "If people smoke your neurons die" ○ Research called "neurogenesis" and "neuroplasticity" state neurons are still created despite smoking (idk if im understanding this correctly) ○ Less likely your neurons will die even if you smoke - "Do I entirely believe it?" - "How much evidence/statements/sayings do I believe in? Until what extent?" Steps in Scientific Method 1. Perceive the question (upon observation) 2. Form a hypothesis/explanation/prediction; gather data 3. Test #2 4. Draw conclusions based on the data; analysis 5. Present your results Science Vocabulary - Scientific Theory ○ Explanation for a large number of findings in the natural world - Hypothesis ○ Testable prediction based on theories/observations - Variable ○ Any characteristic whose values can change - Independent Variable ○ Variable that the experimenter manipulates as a basis for making predictions about the dependent variable - Dependent Variable ○ The outcome variable that is measured or recorded, that is expected to have some changes as hypothesized in an experiment - Population ○ The entire group about which the investigator wants to draw conclusions - Sample ○ The subset of the population that the investigator studies in order to learn about the population at large - External validity ○ The degree to which a study's participants, stimuli, and procedures adequately reflect the world as it actually is - Demand characteristics ○ The cues in a study that might tell a research participant what behaviors are expected or desirable in that setting - Double-blind study ○ The technique of assigning participants to experimental conditions while keeping both the participants and the researchers unaware of who is assigned to which group