Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Overview

• Big Questions

  • Importance of psychology in daily life

  • Key principles guiding modern psychology

  • Benefits of psychological research

Key Concepts in Psychology

• 1.1: Psychology Is a Science

  • Focuses on mental activity, behavior, and brain processes

  • Empiricism: Evidence-based approach to understanding behavior

  • Difference between subjective (personal views) and objective (scientific evidence) insights

• 1.2: Psychology and Learning

  • Employs psychological principles to enhance study skills and academic performance

  • Emphasizes the role of practice in effective learning

• 1.3: Critical Thinking Skills

  • Involves systematic evaluation of information based on evidence

  • Key steps in critical thinking:

    1. Assessing the credibility of sources

    2. Evaluating the strength of evidence

    3. Checking for agreement among credible sources

• 1.4: Personal and Professional Improvement

  • Psychology enhances personal life and professional success

  • Understanding people is crucial in various professions

Key Principles Guiding Psychology

• 1.5: Interconnected Domains

  • Psychologists study biology, cognition, development, social personality, and health

  • Historical context: Wilhelm Wundt founded the first psychology lab in 1879

• 1.6: Diversity in Psychology

  • Psychology is becoming more diverse, including race, ethnicity, gender, and more

  • Representation of women and minorities in psychology has improved over time

• 1.7: Ethics in Psychology

  • Research must adhere to ethical guidelines, focusing on privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, and harm protection

Psychological Research Methods

• 1.8: Scientific Method

  • Goals include describing, predicting, controlling, and explaining phenomena

  • Steps: developing theories, formulating hypotheses, testing methods, analyzing data, sharing results

• 1.9: Descriptive Methods

  • Methods include case studies, observational studies, and self-reports

• 1.10: Correlational Methods

  • Examine relationships between variables without establishing causation

  • Problems in Correlational Research:

    • Directionality problem

    • Third variable problem

• 1.11: Experimental Methods

  • Manipulate independent variables to test causal relations

  • Key concepts: dependent and independent variables, control groups, confounds, random sampling, random assignment