psychology

what is psychology?

The systematic, scientific study of how people think, feel and behave.

what is the scientific method?

A systematic approach to planning and conducting research.

why is psychology a science?

• Aims to answer what influences human development

• Explores the complexities of human behaviour based on evidence

what is a psychologist?

Psychologists are trained to understand how people think, feel and behave.

Provide psychological treatments to help individuals.

what is a psychiatrist?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication.

Treat complex and serious mental illnesses.

what are the fields in psychology?

what are ethics?

A set of values based on integrity, justice and respect.

Psychologists must carry out research in an ethical and responsible manner.

why are ethics important?

Ensures participants have rights and are not psychologically or physiologically harmed.

what was the Milgram Obedience Study (1961)?

Volunteers were told to give electric shocks to another person (an actor) when they got answers wrong. The shocks weren't real, but the volunteer didn’t know that. Many people kept giving shocks, even when they thought they were hurting someone, just because an authority figure told them to. 

why was the Milgram Obedience Study (1961) unethical?

• Participants were deceived (lied to). 

• Many experienced high stress, guilt, and emotional pain. 

• They were not fully informed about what the experiment involved. 

what was the Stanford Prison Experiment (1971)?

Zimbardo created a fake prison and asked college students to play the roles of "guards" or "prisoners." Within days, the guards became abusive, and the prisoners showed signs of severe stress. The study had to be stopped after just 6 days. 

why was the Stanford Prison Experiment (1971) unethical?

• Participants were not protected from psychological harm. 

• The experiment continued even when people were clearly distressed. 

• It lacked proper oversight or safety procedures. 

what is the nervous system?

A system of networks of specialised cells (neurons) that connect different parts of the body to each other and the brain via electrochemical signals.

types of nervous systems diagram

what is the central nervous system?

Contains the brain and spinal cord as well as relay/connector neurons aka interneurons.

what is the peripheral nervous system?

Communication pathway that goes back and forth between the brain and the extremities.

what is the autonomic nervous system?

System of nerves connected to heart, glands and smooth muscles (e.g. digestive organs), deals with largely involuntary systems.

what is the sympathetic nervous system?

manages the body in times of stress (fight-or-flight)

what is the parasympathetic nervous system?

maintains normal bodily functions (rest-and-digest)

what is the somatic nervous system?

system of nerves communicating information from the sense organs to the CNS and from the CNS to motor muscles.

what is the brain?

• made of soft nervous tissue

• coordinating centre of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity

• most complex part of the body, specialised areas communicate with each other

what are hemispheres in the brain?

• The cerebrum can be separated into two main hemispheres: left and right.

• They are joined by a branch of fibres known as the corpus callosum.

what is the left hemisphere for?

• language based tasks (speaking, reading, writing)

• analytical thinking

• logical reasoning

what is the right hemisphere for?

• visual-spatial tasks (reading a map, completing a jigsaw puzzle)

• appreciation of art and music

• recognition of faces and patterns