Module1&2-Thinking Critically with Psychological Science

MODULES 1 & 2: THINKING CRITICALLY WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

• Dr. Erica Gelven

• Psychology 101

Psychology

• Defined as the science of behavior and mental processes.

Key Concepts in Psychology

• Behavior: Any action an organism performs.

• Mind: Internal and subjective experiences inferred from behavior.

• Scientific Approach: More a methodology for questioning and answering than mere collection of facts.

Research Methods in Psychology

• Empirical Research: Involves both qualitative and quantitative methods.

• Empirical Method: A structured approach to data collection.

Historical Perspectives

Prescientific Psychology: Ancient Greece

• Socrates: Proposed that the mind and body are distinct; self-knowledge is crucial.

• Plato: Supported a similar view of separation, with mental processes originating in the brain.

• Aristotle: Suggested that mind and body are closely connected, with mental processes emanating from the heart.

Early Pioneers of Psychology

• Wilhelm Wundt: Considered the founder of modern psychology.

• Ivan Pavlov: Known for classical conditioning.

• Sigmund Freud: Developed psychoanalysis.

• Jean Piaget: Focused on cognitive development.

• William James: Offered functionalist perspective.

• G. Stanley Hall: Early psychologist and educator.

Schools of Thought in Psychology

Major Schools

• Structuralism: Focused on elements and structure of the mind.

• Functionalism: Examined how mental processes help organisms adapt.

• Psychoanalytic: Investigated unconscious processes.

• Gestalt: Emphasized the whole over parts.

• Behaviorism: Concentrated on observable behaviors.

• Humanism: Highlighted personal growth and self-actualization.

• Cognitive: Researched mental processes like memory and thought.

• Multicultural: Considered the effects of culture on behavior.

Key Psychological Theories

Structuralism vs Functionalism

• Structuralism: Used introspection to analyze the mind's structure.

• Functionalism: Analyzed mental processes in relation to adaptiveness.

Psychoanalysis

• Developed by Freud, connected the unconscious mind with conscious behavior.

Behaviorism

• Dominated psychology from 1920-1960, focusing on conditioning and observable behavior.

Humanism

• A perspective that emphasizes the growth potential and positive qualities of healthy individuals.

Cognitive Psychology

Focus Areas

• Examines processes of thinking, memory, attention, and creativity.

• Cognitive Revolution: Established the mind as the focus of scientific inquiry.

Contemporary Psychology

Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology

• Highlights the importance of culture in psychological processes.

Levels of Analysis

• Trains perspectives from biological to psychological to social-cultural influences:

  • Biological Influences: Genetics, mutations, evolution and environment's role.

  • Psychological Influences: Learned behaviors, emotional responses, cognitive processing.

  • Social-Cultural Influences: Impact of societal norms, peer groups, and cultural expectations.

Perspectives in Contemporary Psychology

Varied Approaches and Focus

• Neuroscience: Explores biological bases of emotions and memory.

• Evolutionary: Discusses natural selection's effects on behavior.

• Behavior genetics: Investigates genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

• Psychodynamic: Considers unconscious drives and conflicts.

• Behavioral: Focuses on learning observable behaviors.

• Cognitive: Investigates information processing and memory.

• Social-Cultural: Examines behavior across cultural contexts.

Psychology’s Subfields

Major Areas

• Basic Research: Increases knowledge base in areas like biopsychology and cognitive psychology.

• Applied Research: Solves practical problems in areas like industrial/organizational psychology and health psychology.

Clinical Subfields

• Counseling Psychology: Helps with personal problems.

• Clinical Psychology: Studies and treats psychological disorders.

• Psychiatry: Medicine branch focusing on psychological disorders.

• Community Psychology: Examines interactions in social environments.

Need for Psychological Science

Key Concepts

• Hindsight Bias: The tendency to believe, post-outcome, that one would have predicted the outcome.

• Overconfidence: Tendency to overestimate one’s own abilities and knowledge.

The Scientific Method

• Theory: Framework organizing observations and predicting outcomes.

• Hypothesis: Testable prediction based on theory.

• Operational Definitions: Specifies procedures for measuring variables.

• Replication: Repeating studies to confirm findings.

Research Methodologies

Types of Studies

• Case Study: In-depth study of a single entity to reveal broader principles; can suggest future research.

• Naturalistic Observation: Records behavior in natural contexts without manipulation.

• Survey: Gathers self-reported data on attitudes or behaviors from a representative sample.

Correlation vs Causation

• Correlation shows relationships between variables but does not infer causation.

• Examples examining relationships (e.g., mood and smoking) illustrate this.

Experimental Research

Key Concepts

• Experiment: Method manipulating variables to observe effects on behavior.

• Double-Blind Procedure: Both participants and researchers are unaware of treatment allocations to reduce bias.

• Independent Variable: The variable manipulated.

• Dependent Variable: The outcome measured.

Research Ethics

Guidelines

• Follow IRB and IACUC standards.

• Informed consent, debriefing, and ethical practices are essential in research designs.

Unethical Experiments

Important Notes

• Awareness of ethical standards is critical to prevent unethical research practices.