PSY 1010 Lecture Notes: Introduction to Psychology (PDF)

Welcome to PSYC 1010! Lecture 1: Introduction to psychology Dr. Alisha Salerno  My approach to teaching Foster a positive learning environment Promote student engagement Focus on accessibility and flexibility 2  About our class...

Welcome to PSYC 1010! Lecture 1: Introduction to psychology Dr. Alisha Salerno  My approach to teaching Foster a positive learning environment Promote student engagement Focus on accessibility and flexibility 2  About our class Evaluations- many ways to earn Lectures marks! In-person 4 non-cumulative MC tests (17% Interactive each) – lecture-based Class discussions, Applied reflections (2% each, 10% demonstrations, try-it-together total) activities, small group applied 2 mini assignments (8%, 10%) activities URPP (4%) Lecture slides will be posted before class 2-3 week turnaround for assignment marking! URPP Participate in real research to earn up to 4% toward your grade! Register for an account Grades will be posted at the end of the term! Not updated live! Course policies TAs Rounding policies Missed tests Extension coupons AI/Academic honesty/posting on course-sharing websites Email policy Tips for success Questions? Talk to the prof/TA if Complete all course you are having trouble, components (especially Stay on top of readings don’t wait until the end! if you are trying to & assignments Ask questions, meet achieve a higher letter with TA etc. grade) Make friends! (with the If you’re hoping to apply Use proper email same work ethic as to graduate school, get etiquette you) – beware of group to know your Profs chats  Psychology is… The scientific study of behavior and mental processes Psychologists describe, predict, and explain human behavior and mental processes Psychology’s past and present Originally psychology was considered a part of philosophy - ancient Greeks contemplated the mind Formal beginning late 19th century Wilhelm Wundt – first psychology lab in 1879 – studied building blocks of the mind (structuralism) (think chemistry, periodic table of elements) using introspection  Structuralism Wilhelm Wundt and E.B. Titchener Wundt credited as a founder Established 1st psychology lab Understand the structure & characteristics of the mind through introspection Emphasized systematic observation to study consciousness Theoretical perspectives in psychology How can we explain behaviour? There are five primary schools of thought that have shaped modern psychology Structuralism Functionalism Behaviorism Cognitivism Psychoanalysis  Functionalism William James – 1st American psych James drew from the functionality of cognitive process, establishing functionalism What the mind does and how behaviour functions Perspectives influenced by the theory of natural selection  Psychodynamic Founded by Sigmund Freud Studies hysteria & neurosis Theorized that many of his patients’ problems arose from unconscious mind Could access unconscious mind through dream analysis Focuses on the role of a person’s unconscious on early childhood experiences  Behaviorism John B. Watson known as father of behaviourism Believed that objective analysis of the mind was impossible Instead, focus on observable behaviour and ways to control it Used today in behavioural therapy and CBT B. F. Skinner Concentrated on how behavior was affected by its consequences. Studied the principles of modifying behavior through reinforcement and punishment which he saw as major factors in driving behavior (operant conditioning).  Cognitivism Piaget and Neisser Understand mental processes underlying thinking Thinking affects our behaviour – not about reward or punishment BUT interpretation Women in psychology Esther Greenglass Only woman in her PhD psych program at U of T (1967) Social prejudice hindered women’s participation Excluded from graduate programs Still only represent 28% of faculty at highest rank (although 44% of faculty) Male profs earn an average of $5000 per year more than female counterparts in Canada Margaret Floy Washburn 1st woman to receive PhD Psych (1984) How do we know what we know? Authority Reason Observation “There is safety in numbers” Why we can’t always trust common sense Naïve Realism “Seeing is believing” Consider: The earth seems flat We seem to be standing still but the earth is rotating around the sun at 30 km/sec  Sometimes common sense is correct! … and can help with hypothesis generation! Snap judgements based on facial traits are 65% accurate in determining sexual orientation Tskhay, Re & Rule, 2014 Scientific method Approach used by psychologists (and other scientists) to systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behaviour & other phenomena (1) identify question of interest (2) formulate explanation (3) carry out research to support/refute Scientific Theory An explanation for a large number of findings in the natural world A testable prediction is called a hypothesis E.g., theory: the bystander effect Hypothesis: the more people present at the scene of an accident, the longer the response time will be Bias awareness The best scientists are aware of their biases! Confirmation bias tendency to seek out evidence that supports our hypothesis Neglecting or distorting contrary evidence E.g., police decision-making! Bias awareness continued Belief perseverance Tendency to stick to our initial belief even when evidence is contradictory The “don’t confuse me with facts” bias Psychological Pseudoscience Imposters of science Set of claims that seem scientific, but lack defenses from bias Warning signs Use of psychobabble (e.g., energy therapies) Lack of self-correction Overreliance on anecdotal evidence Extraordinary claims without extraordinary evidence The Mozart Effect Why are we drawn to pseudoscience? Patternicity Finding comfort in our own beliefs Patternicity Tendency to detect meaningful patterns in random stimuli Finding comfort in our beliefs Terror management theory We experience anxiety because we are aware that death is inevitable but unpredictable To manage this anxiety, we seek worldviews that provide meaning, purpose, and continuity The theory is tested by manipulating morality salience (the extent to which death is on our minds) The antidote for pseudoscience Think scientifically Separate science from pseudoscience Avoid common logical fallacies Common logical fallacies Emotional reasoning fallacy Using emotions rather than evidence Bandwagon fallacy Lots of people believe it so it must be true Not me fallacy Other people have those biases, not me Dangers of Pseudoscience Opportunity cost E.g., investing time, energy, effort into questionable treatment Direct harm Sometimes do direct harm to those who receive them Blocks critical thinking One domain spills over into other critical issues (e.g., stem cell research, GMOs) Critical thinking Set of skills to evaluate claims open-mindedly and carefully Key to scientific method Thinking critically ~ thinking scientifically Not intuitive, requires overcoming biases Six Principles of Scientific Thinking Ruling out rival Correlation isn’t Falsifiability hypotheses causation Extraordinary claims require Replicability Occam’s Razor extraordinary evidence 1. Ruling out rival hypotheses Important alternate explanations should be considered 2. Correlation vs. Causation A variable is anything that can vary Can we be sure variable A causes variable B? Decrease in honey actually correlated with how harsh winter is! Correlation doesn’t mean causation! Third variable problem Reverse causality Martino et al., 2006 Listening to sexual lyrics is correlated with sexual behaviour Listening to sexual Sexual behaviour lyrics Listening to sexual Sexual behaviour lyrics Impulsivity 3. Falsifiability Can this claim be disproven? Good theories are sometimes bold and can be proven wrong (risky predictions) ALL SWANS ARE WHITE Which one of these cartoons shows a falsifiable statement? 4. Replicability Is it possible to duplicate scientific findings? 5. Extraordinary claims Is the evidence as convincing as the claims? The more a claim contradicts what we already know, the more persuasive the evidence for this claim must be before we should accept it (Hume) 6. Occam’s razor Does a simpler explanation for the data equally well? Principle of parsimony or KISS Modern psychology Two types Experimental psychology Branches of psychology Research focused neuropsychology Child/developmental psychology Clinical psychology I-O psychology Treatment, assessment, diagnosis Sports psychology Science-practitioner model Social/personality psychology Forensic psychology …Etc. How Psychology Affects Our Lives Basic research Examines how the mind works Applied research Utilize the research in everyday life to solve real-world problems