Psych Final Exam Study Guide I Lecture 2 History A How is Psychology defined 1 Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes 2 The goals of psychology are a Description b Prediction c Explanation d Application control B Psychology Then 1 Pre Greek a Behavior is influenced by gods nature b Mind is centered in the heart or other organs 2 The Greek 300 BC a Socrates Plato Learn about ourselves by examining one s thoughts and feelings Introspection modern term meaning looking within Nativism nature the idea that our thoughts ideas and characteristics are inborn and carried in our genes Human behavior is subject to laws motivated to seek pleasure not pain Empiricism nurture knowledge is gained through experiences b Aristotle 3 Middle Ages a 1 AD 1000 AD war takes precedence b 1000 AD 1500 AD religion takes precedence c Demonic Possession Devil demons caused abnormal behavior Trial by ordeal 4 Age of Enlightenment Reason a Revisit the old debate of nature or nurture b The scientists 1800s Charles Darwin Origin of Species Gustav Fechner Psychophysics C History of Modern Psychology Intersection of philosophy and physiology 1 2 Psychologist s roots a Structuralism i ii iii i ii i ii i ii i The study of the most basic elements primarily sensations and perceptions that make up our conscious experiences Involves introspection ii iii Wilhelm Wundt 1st psychological laboratory Considered the founder of modern psychology Sensation and perception b Functionalism i ii The study of the function rather than the structure of consciousness Interested in how our minds adapt to our changing environment 1 Behavioral observations conducted in a laboratory iii iv William James 1st psychological laboratory Physiological psychology c Psychoanalysis i ii A look into the early mind The belief that childhood experiences greatly influence the development of later personality traits and psychological problems People frequently associate this perspective with psychology psychodynamic perspective Emphasizes unconscious conflict past events childhood trauma Sigmund Freud iii Vietnamese physician One of the most famous psychologists Studied the unconscious to understand behavior The Interpretation of Dreams d Behaviorism i Emphasized the objective scientific analysis of observable behaviors Mental events are triggered by external stimuli which lead to behaviors Stimuli Response Rewards Punishment Interested in behavior and its precise measurement e Gestalt Approach Sensation vs perception Emphasized that perception is more than the sum of its parts Studied how sensations are assembled into meaningful perceptual experiences Belief that the mind must be studied in terms of large meaningful units instead of the small units of structuralism ii i ii iii iv D Psychology Now 1 We define psychology today as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes 2 Modern Perspectives a Psychodynamic focus on unconscious and early development not sex b Behavioral focus on operant conditioning punishment and reinforcement c Humanistic focus on human potential choosing own destiny d Biophysical attribute human and animal behavior to biological events e Cognitive memory intelligence learning perception etc f Sociocultural relationship between social behavior and culture g Evolutionary biological mental traits shared by all humans 3 Clinical Psychology vs Psychiatry a Clinical Psychologist studies assesses and treats troubled people with psychotherapy b Psychiatrists are medical professionals who use treatments like drugs and psychotherapy to treat psychologically diseased patients II Lecture 3 Methodology A Scientific Method 1 Steps 2 a Perceive b Hypothesize c Test d Draw conclusions e Report revise replicate f Repeat 2 Research Design i ii iii i ii i i i i ii a Specific methods a researcher uses to collect analyze and interpret data b Three types Descriptive Research describe Correlational Research predict Experimental Research explain B Descriptive Research 1 Naturalistic observation observing subject in its natural habitat a Advantages b Disadvantages Observe in natural environment Realistic behaviors 2 Laboratory Observation bring subject into a lab Subjects act differently under observation a Advantages i More controlled conditions ii Access to specialized equipment b Disadvantages i Will change behavior in lab setting period of time a Advantages behaviors of people a The sample b Problems 3 Case Studies in depth study of either a person or small group over an extended Lots of information about the person group b Disadvantages Cannot generalize 4 Survey a technique for ascertaining the self reported attitudes opinions or Representative sample is key Random sampling is a process by which each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected i Wording effect wording of statements questions can affect the outcome Knowledge must understand all words used in the question Representativeness need a representative sample ii iii 1 Correlation a measure of the relationship between 2 variables in quantitative C Correlational Research terms 2 Range a 1 to 1 b 1 strongest to 1 weakest 3 3 Variable anything that changes or varies 4 Scatterplot a graph comprised of points generated by values of two variables a Slope depicts direction b Scatter amount depicts strength of relationship 5 Types of correlation a Positive both variables related in the same direction b Negative variables related in opposite direction c None variables are unrelated 6 Illusory Correlation the perception of a relationship where none exists a Many factors influence our behavior b The goal of the experiment is to manipulate the variable of interest while Independent Variable IV variable that is manipulated by the experimenter a b Dependent Variable DV factor that is proposed to change in response to a Superstitions b Stereotypes prejudice CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION D Experimentation 1 Exploring Cause and Effect controlling everything else 2 Variables independent variable 3 Random Assignment 4 Describing Data a Measures of central tendency i Mode ii Mean iii Median b Measures of variation i ii Range Standard deviation III Lecture 4 Neurons and Neurotransmitters A Neuroscience Behavior 1 Everything psychological is simultaneously biological 2 Everything we do think happens because of patterns of activity in our brain B Neurons 1 The body s information system is built from billions of interconnected cells 2 Parts of a
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