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Introduction
I. What is Psychology?
II. Goals of Psychology
III. Perspectives on Behavior
I. What Is Psychology
Psychology defined…
• The science of behavior and mental processes.
(text)
• The scientific study of behavior and the
factors that influence it.
II. Goals of Psychology
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To Observe
To Understand
To Predict
To Control/Influence
III. Perspectives on Behavior
A. Biological
- Neuroscience, Evolutionary, Behavior Genetics
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Psychodynamic
Behavioral
Cognitive
Sociocultural
Humanistic
Thinking Critically about Psychological
Science
I.
Two Approaches to Understanding
Behavior
II. Scientific Attitudes
III. Steps in the Scientific Process
IV. Defining and Measuring Variables
V. Methods of Research
I. Two Approaches to
Understanding Behavior
• World War II Survey
WW II Survey
• Motivation to become officers was higher among
White soldiers than Black soldiers.
• During basic training, soldiers from rural
backgrounds had higher moral and adapted better
than soldiers from cities.
• During combat, soldiers with higher IQs were more
fearful and likely to develop psychological disorders
than soldiers with lower IQs.
• Soldiers serving in Europe were more highly
motivated to go home while the war was going on
than they were after the war had ended. (Duh!)
II. Scientific Attitudes
• Curiosity
– “Hmmm… I wonder why that is?”
• Skepticism
– “How exactly do you know that?
• Humility
– “Yes, it is possible I could be wrong.”
• Openmindedness:
– “That is an interesting possibility.”
“I have no special talents. I am
only passionately curious.”
-Albert Einstein
III. Steps in the Scientific Process
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Initial Observation
Form Hypothesis (Usually based on Theory)
Test Hypothesis (Conduct Research)
Analyze Data
Further Research & Theory Building
Form and Test New Hypotheses
Hypotheses and Theories
• Hypothesis
– a testable prediction, often implied by a theory
(typically takes an “If… then…” form)
• Theory
– An explanation using an integrated set of
principles that organizes and predicts observations
OR…
– Formal statements that explain how and why
events are related
Statistical Significance
• Defined: A statistical statement of how likely it
is that an obtained result (in a study) occurred
by chance.
– If a result is “statistically significant,” this means
that it is unlikely to have been caused by chance.
(thus, something interesting is probably going on)
– If a result is NOT statistically significant, this
means that it is likely to have been caused by
chance. (most likely nothing interesting is going
on)
IV. Defining and Measuring Variables
V. Methods of Research
A. Description
B. Correlation
C. Experimentation
Representative Samples and Random
Selection
• Survey sample needs to be representative
• A representative sample closely matches the larger
population on important characteristics
• In other words, the sample is a miniature version of
the population (Mini-Me versus Dr. Evil)
• Representative samples are usually created using
random selection
• Each member of a population has an equal chance of
being selected to be in the sample.
Psychology
Biological Foundations of Behavior
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Introduction
A Microscopic View: The Neuron
Basic Divisions of the Nervous System
A Macroscopic View: The Brain
I. Introduction
II. A Macroscopic View: The Neuron
How Do Drugs Achieve Their Effects?
Agonist
• Defined: Any drug that enhances or helps the
effect of a neurotransmitter.
• Examples:
– Cocaine and amphetamines are dopamine
agonists
– Nicotine is an acetylcholine (ACh) agonist
Antagonist
• Defined: Any drug that counter acts or hinders
the effect of a neurotransmitter.
• Examples:
– 1st schizophrenia medications were dopamine
antagonists
– botulinum toxin (botulism poisoning) is an
acetylcholine (Ach) antagonist
III. Divisions of the Nervous System
IV. A Macroscopic View: The Brain
A. How Do We Learn about the Brain?
Brain Imaging: CT or CAT Scan
Brain Imaging: PET Scan
Brain Imaging: MRI
Brain Imaging: fMRI
Brain Imaging: Diffusion Tensor
Imaging (MRI)
B. Structures of the Brain
1. Hindbrain
– Pons
– Cerebellum
– Medulla (Oblongata)
2. Midbrain
– Reticular formation
B. Structures of the Brain
3. Forebrain
– Thalamus
– Hypothalamus
– Hippocampus
– Amygdala
– Cerebral Cortex
Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex
• Frontal
– Voluntary movement, planning, speech production
(Broca’s Area), working memory, impulse control
• Parietal
– Bodily sensations (touch, pain, coldness, etc…)
• Occipital
– Visual processing
• Temporal
– Auditory processing, speech comprehension (Wernicke’s
Area)
Lateralization of Function
• A.k.a. “lateralized function” or “hemispheric
specialization”
• Defined: the tendency for a function to be
more controlled by one side of the brain than
the other (left versus right)
• Examples:
– Language: left hemisphere more dominant
– Facial recognition: right hemisphere more
dominant