Download 1001PSY Psychodynamic Behaviourist Humanistic Cognitive

1001PSY
Week 1



Wundt introspection – looking inward & reporting on one’s conscious experience
Structuralism- consciousness through introspection, Edward Titchener (should be
more scientific)
Functionalism- psychological processes in adapting. William James, Darwin.
Perspectives

Paradigm- theoretical assumptions to make sense of domain of study
Psychodynamic

Sigmund Freud, actions determined by thoughts, feelings, wishes, many of these
occur out side of consciousness.
Behaviourist

Focuses on objects in environment control behaviour. John Watson (pioneer). B.F.
Skinner (no need for scientific). Ivan Pavlov (dogs, classical conditioning).
Humanistic

Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers. Self actualisation (people motivated to reach full
potential)
Cognitive

Way people perceive, process & retrieve info. Mind blank box, predictable outcomes
Evolutionary

Nature vs Nurture. Charles Darwin, natural selection (best traits gets passed down)
Week 2 – Research methods in Psych.


Quantitative research- experiments/surveys, data that can be statistically analysed
Qualitative research- deeper understanding of research topic. Observations/case study
Theoretical Framework





Theory- organising, explaining observations
Hypothesis- tentative belief about relationship 2+ variables
Variable- phenomenon that can differ
Continuous variable- can be placed on a continuum eg. IQ
Categorical variable- groupings e. gender
Generalisability

Applicability of findings to entire population of interest. Internal validity (methods
that test hypothesis, validity of design), & external validity (generalizability,
replicability).
Types of Research

Experimental- manipulate variables to see effect


Descriptive- observations of small group (case study), observation in nature
(naturalistic), Q. about own behaviour (survey).
Correlational- if 2+ variables are related
Experimental Research

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Main goals: description (sum data obtained from research), prediction (use data to
predict), understanding (why).
Derived from theory, predict relationship of variables
Abstract concept to testable form
Control conditions, make sure no bias
 Control group- placebo treatment
 Demand characteristics- when participants act how the experimenter wants
 Double-blind study- both researcher & participant don’t know who’s being
exposed
Random assign to diff. participants.
Explain findings, make conclusion
Data supports hypothesis? Recommendations to future studies
Descriptive Research




Explain phenomena as is, no manipulation
Case study- individual/ small group, clinical
Naturalistic observation- generalizable, participants may change behaviour
Survey research- Q.’s to large sample
Correlation Research


To what degree two variables related?
Positive & negative
Imaging Techniques




EEG- measures electricity from surface of brain.
CAT- multiple images merged, x-ray
MRI- same thing without x-ray
PET- injection of radioactive glucose
Week 3 – Biological Bases


Nervous system- network of nerve cells
Major classes of neurons (basic unit):
1. Sensory- input from sensory receptors to brain
2. Interneurons- output received, connect neurons with one another
3. Motor- transmits commands from interneurons to glands and muscles. Voluntary
and vital body functions.
Anatomy


Dendrites- receive inputs from cells
Soma- metabolism, genetic material, sugar converted
energy
to