Introduction to Psychology 1 Main Topic 2 Key Points Introduction to the eld of psychology focusing on human behavior observation and the scienti c method What is Psychology Explores aspects of psychology including The mind human behavior animal behavior as a model thought processes perception reality mental illnesses nature vs nurture and the hierarchy of human needs Observing Human Behavior Focuses on observing human behavior to understand intentions motives and personalities Students discuss places to observe people malls airports restaurants and what they learn from these observations The Science of Psychology Psychology as a science uses examples of studies to illustrate how psychologists study behavior Includes studies on addiction using rats as models eyewitness testimony and the bystander effect 3 Important Concepts Addiction and the Pleasure Circuitry The brain s pleasure circuitry in relation to addiction Rat studies illustrate the powerful nature of addiction showing it can override basic needs e g food water Instructor shares personal experiences contrasting outcomes with a friend Eyewitness Testimony and Memory Unreliability of eyewitness testimony Story of Jennifer and the wrongful conviction of Randall Cotton Act of describing a face can impair memory of that face The Bystander Effect Study on the bystander effect presence of others can inhibit helping behavior even in emergencies 4 Relevant Terminology Psychology The scienti c study of the mind and behavior Bystander Effect The phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a victim when other people are present Altruism Sel ess concern for the well being of others Addiction A compulsive chronic relapsing disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to use a substance despite harmful consequences 5 Examples or Applications Rat Addiction Studies Experiments on rats addicted to electrical stimulation of the pleasure center illustrate addiction s power Eyewitness Testimony Case of Jennifer Case of Jennifer and Randall Cotton shows eyewitness testimony s unreliability and memory distortion Line Cutting Behavior Studies on line cutting reveal insights into human behavior and social dynamics Instructor engages the class in brainstorming ways to cut in line successfully Helping Behavior Studies on helping behavior e g smoke lled room experiment show social context s in uence on helping and the bystander effect 6 Supporting Data if applicable Smoke Filled Room Study 96 of people leave when alone 30 leave when with confederates instructed not to leave 60 70 stay seated with smoke and seated confederates Other Observed Behaviors High percentage of people put money in a parking meter for someone in uniform