1. Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology Chapter 1, Lecture 4 “Is it an accident that astronomy is the oldest science and psychology the youngest? To some people, exploring the external universe seems far safer than exploring our own inner universe.” - David Myers

2. Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology Q1. Can laboratory experiments illuminate everyday life? Ans: Artificial laboratory conditions are created to study behavior in simplistic terms. The goal is to find underlying principles that govern behavior.

3. FAQ Q2. Does behavior depend on one’s culture and gender? Ans: Even when specific attitudes and behaviors vary across cultures, as they often do, the underlying processes are much the same. Biology determines our sex, and culture further bends the genders. However, in many ways woman and man are similarly human. Ami Vitale/ Getty Images

4. Interesting Cultural Norms Hissing is a polite way to show respect for superiors in Japan. In the village of Bang Chan in Thailand, face-to-face conflict must be avoided at all costs, even to the point of not reporting something unpleasant. For example, one would not say, “Your house is burning.” Better to ask, “Why don’t you go see your house?” The polite way to say “no” is to giggle. Although women may be greatly disturbed by their husbands’ taking additional wives, they would say nothing because they would not want to put anyone on the spot.

5. Interesting Cultural Norms Among the Karaki of New Guinea a man is considered “abnormal” if he has not engaged in homosexual behavior before marriage. In many societies where hunger is endemic, fat women are viewed as much more attractive than slender ones. In Japan, it’s quite acceptable for parents to hire an agency to investigate the background of their daughter’s potential marriage partner.

6. Interesting Cultural Norms By leaving some food on the plate, a guest in India indicates the generosity of the host who has put so much food out that no one could eat it all. In fact, well- meaning visitors can find themselves offending their hosts by following their own custom of eating all the food served to them. Public displays of affection between men and women in Thailand are unacceptable. Interestingly, however, men holding hands is considered a sign of friendship.

7. Interesting Cultural Norms In Latin cultures, children, especially girls, are socialized to value conformity to social norms. Rebelliousness and delinquency are rare. Mexican adolescents will be reluctant to engage in any activity that might bring shame to their families.

8. Interesting Gender Differences Whose hands are warmer? Whose hands are warmer? Usually a man’s because, at room temperature, healthy men have a larger flow of blood to their fingers than do healthy women. When a woman warms up, however, the flow of blood to her hands will exceed a man’s because her blood vessels are more expandable. Thus, her body can accept 40 percent more blood during pregnancy with no increase in blood pressure.

9. Interesting Gender Differences Whose forehead is more likely to feel warm? Whose forehead is more likely to feel warm? A woman’s, but it depends are the time of the month. Normal temperature of either sex is 98.6 F. However, at ovulation a woman’s temperature increases about one degree and remains there for 12 to 14 days until just before menstruation.

10. Interesting Gender Differences Whose armpits are smellier? Whose armpits are smellier? A woman’s. Men perspire most heavily on the upper chest from glands secreting only salts and water. Women sweat most heavily under the arms from glands that secrete fatty substances in addition to salts and water. Bacteria digest the fatty substances and their byproducts make this sweat smelly.

11. Interesting Gender Differences Whose nose knows this rose from that rose? Whose nose knows this rose from that rose? Probably a woman’s. The ability to smell, taste, and hear is influenced by a variety of hormones but especially the adrenal hormones. At almost every point in the cycle, a woman’s senses are more acute. Her senses become even sharper as the monthly production of estrogen increases, peaking at ovulation.

12. Interesting Gender Differences Who is most likely to wake in the night with Who is most likely to wake in the night with a stomachache? A man, two to one. A gnawing pain in the middle of the night is a common symptom to a duodenal ulcer, still primarily a male affliction. Who’s gasping for air in the bedroom? Who’s gasping for air in the bedroom? Probably a man. Men below age 55 are 10 to 15 times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea. After age 55 women catch up.

13. Interesting Gender Differences Who’s that sneezing in the living room? Who’s that sneezing in the living room? If it’s hay fever season, probably a man. The people most likely to be afflicted by airborne allergies are 18- to 24-year-old men, 33 percent of whom suffer when there’s house dust or pollen in the air, versus only 24 percent of women that age. Men of all ages are more likely to be allergic to plant pollens, women are more likely to be allergic to cats and dogs. No one knows why.

14. Interesting Gender Differences Who is more likely to be depressed? Who is more likely to be depressed? In 2003, 19 million Americans suffered from a serious depression. Two out of three were women. Over the course of their lives, 21.3 percent of women and 12.7 percent of men experience at least one bout of depression. Who is more likely to develop Parkinson’s Who is more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease? Men are twice as likely as women to develop Parkinson’s. Women are twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s.

15. Interesting Gender Differences Whose heart will still be beating when it’s Whose heart will still be beating when it’s 78 years old? Odds are, a woman’s. Life expectancy is approximately 81 years and 76 years for U.S. women and men, respectively. In Russia, women outlive men by 13.6 years. In Japan, the life expectancy is 85.56 for women and 78.67 for men. However, in Afghanistan, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Niger, men outlive women.

16. FAQ Q3. Why do psychologists study animals, and is it ethical to experiment on animals? Ans: Studying animals gives us the understanding of many behaviors that may have common biology across animals and humans. From animal studies, we have gained insights to devastating and fatal diseases. All researchers who deal with animal research are required to follow ethical guidelines in caring for these animals. D. Shapiro, © Wildlife Conservation Society Take a look at “Tom the Dancing Bug”

17. FAQ Q4. Is it ethical to experiment on people? Ans: Yes. Experiments that do not involve any kind of physical or psychological harm beyond normal levels encountered in daily life may be carried out.

18. Q5. Is psychology free of value judgments? Ans: No. Psychology emerges from people who subscribe to a set of values and judgments. © Roger Shepard

19. FAQ Q6. Is psychology potentially dangerous? Ans: It can be, but is not when practiced responsibly. The purpose of psychology is to help humanity with problems such as war, hunger, prejudice, crime, family dysfunction, etc.

20. Major ethical guidelines for research with humans: 1. Freedom from Coercion – not ethical to pressure someone into participating in an experiment 2. Informed Consent – must explain experiment to possible participants, they are free to withdraw at any time 3. Limited Deception – two conditions: a) deception can only involve aspects of the study that don’t influence the decision to participate b) deception must be fully revealed at completion 4. Adequate Debriefing – participants have the right to know the results of the study 5. Confidentiality – data from study must protect anonymity of the participants

21. Returning to the question of ethics with human research, let’s read about one of the most famous psychology experiments: Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiment.

22. Homework AY Questions: p.20, p.33 (10 pts)