Lecture 2

Personality psych

Scientific discipline rooted in the scientific method, uses careful research procedures designed to provide reliable and verifiable evidence

Natural Sciences

Concerned about the description, prediction and understanding of natural phenomena.

• Physical science (Includes classical physics, quantum physics, general relativity)

• Biological science (Includes anatomy, physiology, evolutionary sciences, genetics and neurosciences)

Neurosciences:

• Scientific study of the nervous system.

• Three disciplines

  • Electrophysiology

  • Clinical pathology

  • Brain imaging studies

Electrophysiology

use electric measurements using sensors to measure biopotentials in people and associate that with psychological phenomenon. Useful to compare physiology and psychology. Ex: finger temp, electrocardiogram, belt respiration, galvanic skin response (sweating on fingers).

Clinical pathology

wait until someone is dead and look at their brain for psychopathologies (dementia, Alzheimer), Only way to really diagnose Alzheimer is by doing an autopsy).

Brain imaging studies

3D imaging of brain and bloodflow to see activity in certain regions (fmri). Brain activities are associated with specific behaviours (including thought and emotions). The nervous system interacts with the environment.

Evolutionary Sciences

The study of evolutionary psychology combines the knowledge of evolutionary science and psychology and explores the ways in which complex evolutionary factors affect human behaviour, experience, and personality characteristics.

• Changing factors (Alpha males / transformational leadership. are you someone that people aspire to follow you*. Not actually a thing scientifically. In science were talking about the leader, not necessarily the strongest but the one who was elected. Typically one alpha male and one alpha female (one of each at most)). Social behaviour (Whole principle about alpha males is about social connections rathe than personal characteristics)

Social sciences

The social sciences are concerned with society and relations between individuals. People create their social environment (Quantity and quality of resources available. Interactions of the individual with the environment( personality development wont be as smooth and easy and someone in a less harsh environment). Individual and group differences).

Marshmallow test / link to poverty

Developing self control had a major impact on the child’s success in life (Higher SAT scores, Lower levels of substance abuse, Less likely to be obese, Better social skills and self-control). Hot and cool system and thinking linked to instant gratification (Cool: not tempted, the ability to think about long term benefits, Hot: behaviour becomes impulsive). Other study found that self control didn’t exactly have an impact on success like the marshmallow experiment said (Wealthy homes= practice more self control). Other studies on willpower and self discipline noted that people are able to resist temptation loner if they get eh temptation out of their control (hard to resist temptation, easy if you just remove the choice). Overall: what predicts your success is not self control but your wealth or economic situation

Economy

analyses and describes the production, distribution and consumption of resources. Behavioural economics (reasoning, errors of judgment, habit, group pressure)-> Choose one application vs. another, refuse an invitation, choose a roommate, etc.

Prisoner's dilemma

An interest in cooperating, but an even stronger interest in not doing so. Economy: two companies decreasing or increasing their prices. International politics: two countries with an army (cold war) or without (peace). If you cooperate and the other person doesn’t want to cooperate, you lose more than if you don’t cooperate no matter the options

Humanist tradition

Emphasizes the subjective side of the individual, such as the sense of freedom, beauty, creativity and moral responsibility. Also called humanism (secular). Takes a lot of its teachings from Christians, its not religious. Its about putting yourself in front of everything

Genetics

Study of heredity through genetic transmission and variation. how did your genes develop based on the genes that you obtained from both parents

Genetic inheritance

Genetic inheritance refers to the way in which certain traits of living organisms have been passed on from parents to offspring. why do you have some things that your parents have. You’re born with your genetic codes. Susceptibility to different diseases, Predisposition psychological disorders, Temperament of a newborn, Musical skills (some genes are related to musical talent), Inter-group variation (e.g. groups living in mountains / less oxygen)

Epigenetics

when your genetic code changes while you’re alive (its not supposed to change). Most of the time it is due to stress (DNA itself will change) and having children later on will mean that they inherit this new change

Gene

a segment or part of DNA (a complex molecule) that contains codes or "instructions" as biological information on how to construct new protein structures. Tells the body what to make, how much to make, how to make. We all have the same genes, but they are expressed differently. Most of our characteristics are influenced by genetic factors. Some personality components have a stronger link to genetics than others (IQ is genetic; Interest are not genetic, they're preferences; Extroversion, musical talent, logical mind, enjoying puzzles are all somewhat genetic). Personality is built with the relationship between genes and the environment. Genes are building materials. Twins (Mono: identical, exact same genes, will share more personality. Dizy: fraternal, same as sibling). Impact on aggression, anxiety, inhibition, etc. (Can be transmitted genetically). **IQ has one of the highest genetic heritability