PSY 100: 9/2/25

Lecture Notes – What is Psychology?

PSY 100 – Dr. Sattari – August 26, 2025

Introduction

• Psychology: from Greek psyche (mind/soul) + logos (word).
  
  

• Defined as: the systematic study of behavior and experience.
  
  

• Broad field: covers human thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationships.
  
  

• Misconception: psychology ≠ mind reading.
  
  

Three General Points in Psychology

1. “It Depends”
   
   

   • Behavior is influenced by many variables:
     
     

     • Age, sex, gender, culture, social & physical environment, mood, etc.
       
       

   • Example: Kimble Study (1967) – same experiment in two labs produced different results → importance of confounding variables.
     
     

   • Confound example from lecture:
     
     

     • One lab used an old donated dentist’s chair → participants’ mood shifted → influenced learning outcomes.
       
       

2. Measurement Matters
   
   

   • Good measurement = good science.
     
     

   • Psychology is tricky because constructs (e.g., memory, happiness, stress) aren’t directly observable.
     
     

   • Need accurate design:
     
     

     • Testing memory in the morning vs. afternoon produces different results (circadian rhythm effects).
       
       

     • If uncontrolled, results may falsely suggest differences in ability.
       
       

   • Professor’s PhD example:
     
     

     • Compared napping vs. staying awake → some “awake” participants actually snoozed at home → confounded results.
       
       

     • Solution: kept participants in lab, controlled environment → more reliable findings.
       
       

   • Tools: psychometric instruments, surveys, questionnaires.
     
     

     • Issues: self-report bias (e.g., pain scale varies widely between people).
       
       

     • Newer approaches: emoji scales, sliders, multiple validation rounds.
       
       

3. How Strong Is the Evidence?
   
   

   • Published findings ≠ universal truth.
     
     

   • Some evidence is stronger/more generalizable than others.
     
     

   • Example: violent video games and crime.
     
     

     • One study correlated video game sales with violent crime rates → no strong causal link.
       
       

     • Key takeaway: correlation ≠ causation.
       
       

   • Need to interpret findings cautiously, especially when media or the public oversimplifies.
     
     

Philosophical Issues in Psychology

1. Determinism vs. Free Will
   
   

   • Determinism: all behavior has measurable causes.
     
     

   • Free Will: behavior arises from independent choices.
     
     

   • Most scientists lean determinist; free will seen as “illusion of choice.”
     
     

   • Vohs & Schooler (2008):
     
     

     • Reading about determinism increased likelihood of cheating.
       
       

     • Belief in determinism can influence ethical behavior.
       
       

   • Shared ground:
     
     

     • “You did not create yourself; your will is shaped by heredity + experiences.”
       
       

     • Behavior isn’t perfectly predictable, showing limits of determinism.
       
       

2. Mind–Brain Problem
   
   

   • Dualism: mind is separate from body/brain.
     
     

   • Monism: mental activity = brain activity (inseparable).
     
     

   • Scientists favor monism (fits conservation of matter/energy).
     
     

   • Examples discussed:
     
     

     • Stress: experienced mentally and physically.
       
       

     • Phantom limb syndrome: mental pain persists despite missing limb → shows mind and brain interconnection.
       
       

   • Evidence: fMRI studies (Pelphrey et al., 2009) linking brain regions (e.g., fusiform face area) to mental processes.
     
     

3. Nature vs. Nurture
   
   

   • Nature = heredity; Nurture = environment.
     
     

   • Not “either/or” → both matter.
     
     

   • Classic method: twin studies (identical vs. fraternal, together vs. apart).
     
     

   • Example: David Reimer case.
     
     

   • Bottom line: behavior shaped by complex interplay of both.
     
     

Applications of Psychology

1. Service Providers to Individuals
   
   

   • Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, counseling psychologists, psychoanalysts, forensic psychologists, social workers.
     
     

   • Psychiatrist (MD) can prescribe medication; clinical psychologist (PhD/PsyD) focuses on therapy.
     
     

2. Service Providers to Organizations
   
   

   • Human factors, industrial/organizational, military, school psychologists.
     
     

   • Work on consulting and improvements in systems.
     
     

3. Teaching/Research Psychologists
   
   

   • Areas include developmental, cognitive, biological, evolutionary, social, cross-cultural, and motivation/learning.
     
     

Course Policies & Logistics

• Learning is difficult – lots of new terms, requires steady practice.
  
  

• Textbook: not required; professor emphasizes in-class material and lecture slides.
  
  

• Exams: no surprises; will be based on slides + lectures.
  
  

• Sona participation (research credits):
  
  

  • 3 credits required (5% of grade).
    
    

  • Must be 18 to participate; under 18 → alternative assignment (paper review/reflection).
    
    

• No phone policy in class (out of respect and to focus).
  
  

Key Takeaways

• Psychology = scientific study of behavior & experience.
  
  

• Must always consider:
  
  

  • It depends (context matters).
    
    

  • Measurement matters (good science requires careful design).
    
    

  • Evidence strength (interpret cautiously).
    
    

• Ongoing debates: determinism vs. free will, mind vs. brain, nature vs. nurture.
  
  

• Psychologists serve individuals, organizations, and research/teaching roles.