Psychology: The Scientific Attitude, Critical Thinking, and Developing Arguments

Unit 0: An Introduction to Psychology

Module 0.1: The Scientific Attitude, Critical Thinking, and Developing Arguments

Learning Targets

  • LT 0.1-1: Explain how psychology is a science.

  • LT 0.1-2: Describe the three key elements of the scientific attitude and how they support scientific inquiry.

  • LT 0.1-3: Explain how critical thinking feeds a scientific attitude, and smarter thinking for everyday life.

Psychology as a Science (LT 0.1-1)

  • Psychology's findings are based on careful observation and testing, not just anecdotes.

  • Psychological theories require proof and evidence to be validated.

  • Psychological studies and tests help differentiate between fact and opinion.

  • Empirical Approach: An evidence-based method that relies on observation and experimentation.

The Scientific Attitude (LT 0.1-2)

  • A scientific attitude helps distinguish between fact and fiction.

  • Three key characteristics:

    • Curiosity: A desire to know if something works when put to the test and whether predictions can be confirmed. (Does it work? When put to the test, can its predictions be confirmed?)

    • Skepticism: Requires a healthy skepticism, not cynicism (doubting everything) or gullibility (believing everything). (What do you mean? How do you know?)

    • Humility: Researchers must be willing to be surprised and open to new ideas, acknowledging that people and animals may not behave as predicted. (That was unexpected! Let's explore further.)

Examples of Scientific Inquiry

  • Can some people read minds? No one has yet been able to demonstrate extrasensory mind-reading.

  • Do our facial expressions and body postures affect how we actually feel? Our facial expressions and body postures can affect how we feel.

  • Are stress levels related to health and well-being? Many studies have found that higher stress relates to poorer health.

  • Do parental behaviors determine children's sexual orientation? Module 3.3 explains that there is not a relationship between parental behaviors and children's sexual orientation.

Critical Thinking (LT 0.1-3)

  • Embodying the scientific attitude helps us think more critically in our daily lives.

  • Psychological science can debunk enduring myths about human behavior. Examples:

    • Sleepwalkers are not acting out their dreams.

    • Repressed memories are often inaccurate.

    • Individuals with depression can recover.

    • Happiness levels are often similar regardless of age, gender, and level of wealth.

  • Critical thinking is an approach that does not automatically accept arguments and conclusions.

  • Encourages us to:

    • Examine assumptions, both ours and those of others.

    • Discover hidden biases.

    • Evaluate evidence and its source.

    • Assess conclusions logically and in the context of data.