Session 1: Introduction to Psychology The Discipline of Psychology

Lesson Objectives Define Psychology Explain how Psychologists use Scientific Method Relate Psychology to other sciences Explain the goals of Psychology Compare Basic and Applied Research Define Behavioral Data and stimuli Identify an inference from an observation Define intervening variables Explain how people and psychologists use prediction and base rate. Identify independent and dependent variables Discuss the different fields of psychology

Opening Activity We will read the handout about Kathy O. to begin class. While we read, think about the questions that are asked… – What happened to Kathy? – Why did she quit the race? – What could be behind Kathy’s actions? – How could we figure that out?

The Purpose of Psychology Psychology seeks a general understanding of how human beings function, the inner workings of the mind and how that effects behavior. Psychology (study of the human mind or spirit) is the scientific study of the behavior of individuals and their mental processes. Since it is a science, scientific method is used in psychology in order to gather empirical evidence in order to identify and solve the problem.

Using the Scientific Method Using the case of Kathy O. from the text book, how would you go about diagnosing the reason for her behavior…is the observable action an organism uses to adjust to their environment – #1. Define the problem – #2. make an educated prediction or hypothesis – #3. develop a controlled experiment – #4. make unbiased observations – #5. draw conclusions from the data gathered. Certain behaviors can be observed, while others are purely mental and require more innovative techniques in order to study them.

Ties to other Sciences Social Sciences…draws on the same observations as economics, political science, sociology and anthropology. Behavioral Sciences…such as education and environmental design use psychology to train or shape surroundings. Biological Sciences…researchers team with psychologists in researching brain processes and bio-chemical bases of behavior Cognitive Sciences…questions concerning the human mind made by psychologists assist those in the computer science and mathematics field Health Sciences…psychology seeks to improve the quality of life of individuals.

Activity With a partner, think about and develop specific instances where psychology is used with other fields.

The Goals of Psychology The goals of psychology are the following: – Describe, explain, predict and control behavior The research conducted to accomplish these goals and broken into 2 categories: – Basic research: research is driven by a scientist's curiosity or interest in a scientific question. The main motivation is to expand man's knowledge… “is violence instinctive?” – Applied research: Applied research is designed to solve practical problems of the modern world, rather than to acquire knowledge for knowledge's sake. One might say that the goal of the applied scientist is to improve the human condition … “how can social violence be reduced”

Activity Create 5 topics for basic research and 5 topics for applied research

Goals of Psychology: Describing What Happens Describe observations objectively and without bias…why is this difficult? Psychologists gather Behavioral Data (reports of observations about behavior and the conditions under which behavior occurs or changes) The specific behavior being observed is triggered by an environmental condition called a stimulus. – Your alarm clock startles you from being asleep. Psychologists look for reliable relationships between stimuli and response as well as relationships between responses

Activity A man living in his apartment never picks up the common phone when it is ringing. He also has great difficulty looking members of the opposite sex directly in the eye. Based on the behavioral data, what can be gathered about this man? What other observations could be made?

Goals of Psychology: Explaining What Happens Goes beyond descriptions and focuses on the “why” a certain behavior is being done, and also how behavior works. Think of it like solving a mystery. Behavior is understood by finding out how certain stimuli cause responses and the relationship between those responses. It can also be found by informed imagination or an inference…a logical judgment not based on observation – You observe your dog circling his food bowl…you can infer that is hungry

What inferences can be made?

Intervening Variables Inner states that psychologists make inferences about are called intervening variables. They are unseen conditions that are assumed to function as links between what is observed stimulus and individual response. Based on the reading at the beginning of class, what are the intervening variables of Kathy O’s actions. All inferences must be checked against collected data…inferences can be wrong.

Goals of Psychology: Predicting What Happens Predictions in psychology are statements about the likelihood that a certain behavior will occur, or that a given relationship will be found. – You predict that if you hire a plumber to fix a leaky faucet, that he/she knows what they are doing. In psychology, predictions must be worded correctly, communicated to others, tested and confirmed. One major form of prediction is that which is based on historic track record being an indicator for future behavior. This is called a base rate, or statistic that identifies normal frequency, or probability…example insurance companies and teenage drivers.

How to Make a Prediction Realize that behavior is influenced by a number of factors. Specify that a certain stimuli will elicit a certain response. Ask the question in terms of variables (any condition, process or event that changes, i.e. your mood, or the weather) Define your independent (the stimulus condition that is systematically varied by the investigator in order to predict a given effect on a subjects’ behavior) and the dependent variable (any behavioral variable whose values result from or depend on changes in the independent variable.)

What this looks like PREDICTION: A certain drug will reduce the disruptive reactions of school children. PROCEDURE: Drugs will be administered to students who are effected and those who are not. Observations are taken and records of all children’s behavior will be taken. Those with disruptive behavior will be monitored to see if there is a change. Independent variable: the drug treatment Dependent variable: the behavior

Goals of Psychology: Controlling What Happens Defined as making it happen or not happen, starting it or stopping it, and influencing its quality and strength. Helps psychologists improve people’s lives, and is the core of psychological treatment or therapy. Some ethical problems arise, as does the theory that people need to control their lives, as opposed to understanding it.

Fields of Psychology Clinical Psychologists Community Psychologists Biological Psychologists Experimental Psychologists Cognitive Psychologists Developmental Psychologists Personality Psychologists Industrial Psychologists and Human Factors psychologists Educational and School Psychologists Environmental Psychologists Health Psychologists Forensic Psychologists Sports Psychologists