Psychology 110 Crystal Ehresman Office: Room 530 Email: cehresman@columbiacollege.bc.ca

Syllabus Participation 10% Assignment 15% (2 parts @ 7.5% each) Quizzes 45% (3 @ 15% each) Final Exam 30% Total = 100%

What Is Psychology? Chapter 1 Prepared by Cheryl Techentin, Ph.D. These slides © 2013 Pearson Education Canada.

Chapter Outline Psychology, Pseudo-science & Popular Opinion Thinking Critically and Creatively about Psychology Psychology’s Present What Psychologists Do

Psychology The discipline concerned with behaviour and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism’s physical state, mental state, and external environment Empirical Evidence gathered by careful observation, experimentation, or measurement

Pop Psychology left right

Psychology, Pseudoscience, & Psychobabble Can you distinguish between psychobabble and empirical psychology? Psychobabble confirms unsupported popular opinion Empirical approach makes use of research evidence and challenges opinion

Pseudoscience associates itself with true science relies on and accepts anecdotal evidence

Pseudoscience ignores disproof (countering evidence) a theory is not a good theory if it can never make specific predictions dangerously reduces complexity to simplicity (to a consumer society)

Clues for a Pseudoscience The use of psychobabble – words that sound scientific and professional but are used incorrectly, or in a misleading manner. A substantial reliance on anecdotal evidence. Extraordinary claims in the absence of extraordinary evidence. Claims which cannot be proven false. Claims that counter established scientific fact. Absence of adequate peer review. Claims that are repeated despite being refuted.

Psychology Uses research and the scientific method to challenge popular opinions and things that are considered common sense…

Examples of Pseudoscience Astrology - Belief that humans are affected by the position of celestial bodies

Examples of Pseudoscience Mental Powers – ESP, mind reading, palm reading, crystal balls, tarot card reading Conspiracy theories

Empirical Science Peer review

Thinking Critically & Creatively Critical thinking The ability and willingness to assess claims and make objective judgments on the basis of well-supported reasons and evidence, rather than emotion or anecdote. 8 critical thinking guidelines

Critical Thinking Guidelines Ask Questions: Be Willing to Wonder - how, why Define Your Terms - Vague terms lead to incomplete answers

Critical Thinking Guidelines 3. Examine the Evidence Check the facts available Identifying bad sources CRAP test (see hand-out)

Critical Thinking Guidelines 4. Analyze Assumptions and Biases - assumptions are beliefs taken for granted - biases occur when we ignore the alternatives despite evidence Michael Zehaf-Bibeau

Critical Thinking Guidelines Avoid Emotional Reasoning - Emotional conviction alone cannot settle arguments Don’t Oversimplify - Argument by anecdote – generalizing to everyone based on personal experience or a few examples

Critical Thinking Guidelines 7. Consider Other Interpretations - Consider many explanations

7. Consider other interpretations People who floss regularly live longer More crime occurs at lower elevation in San Fransisco than at higher elevation. Junkscience.org

Critical Thinking Guidelines 8. Tolerate Uncertainty - Realize not everything has an answer…yet 8

Critical Thinking 1. Ask questions; be willing to wonder. 2. Define the problem. 3. Examine the evidence. 4. Analyze assumptions and biases. 5. Avoid emotional reasoning 6. Don’t use either/or thinking or overgeneralize 7. Consider other interpretations 8. Tolerate uncertainty.

Psychology’s Present Major Psychological Perspectives: Biological perspective Learning perspective Cognitive perspective Socio-cultural perspective Psychodynamic perspective

Biological Perspective Approach that emphasizes how bodily events affect behaviour, feelings, and thoughts This perspective involves: Hormones Brain chemistry Heredity/genetics Evolutionary psychology How past adaptive behaviours are reflected in present behaviours

Learning Perspective Approach that is concerned with how the environment and experience affect a person’s (or animal’s) actions This perspective involves: Behaviourism: how environmental rewards and punishments influences behaviour Social-cognitive learning theories: combine elements of behaviourism with thoughts, values, expectations, and intentions.

Cognitive Perspective Approach that emphasizes mental processes in perception, memory, language, problem solving, and reasoning

Socio-cultural Perspective Approach that emphasizes social and cultural influences on behaviour This perspective involves: Social psychology – study of rules, roles, groups, and relationships Cultural psychology – study of cultural norms, values, and expectations

Psychodynamic Perspective Sigmund Freud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQh9LBIhjyM 4 minutes 50 seconds

Psychodynamic Perspective Approach that emphasizes unconscious dynamics within the individual, such as inner forces, conflicts, or instinctual energy This perspective involves: Unconscious thoughts, desires, conflicts Connected to all other areas of psychology, but distinct in its language, methods, and standards of evidence

How do you become a Psychologist? Undergraduate Degree – psychology or related field, with an Honours thesis, art or science Master’s Degree – approximately 2 years, funding available and paid some PhD – approximately 4 years, funding available and paid some (now you are a psychologist!) Post-doctoral placements – funding available and paid $

What Psychologists Do Three categories of professional activities for psychologists: Teaching and doing research in colleges and universities Providing health or mental-health services (psychological practice) Conducting applied research for non- academic settings (business, sports, government, law, and military)

Psychological Practice Counselling psychologists: help with everyday problems School psychologists: work with students, parents & teachers to enhance performance and resolve emotional difficulties Clinical psychologists: diagnose, treat, & study mental and emotional problems

Clinical Psychologists are NOT: Psychotherapists Anyone who does any kind of psychotherapy Psychoanalysts Individuals who have trained in and practice psychoanalysis Psychiatrists Medical doctors who diagnose and treat mental disorders Psychotherapist – term is not regulated Psychoanalyst – requires special training at a psychoanalytic institute, one inToronto

End of Chapter 1