HOW CAN THE STUDY OF PSYCHOLOGY HELP US UNDERSTAND HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
Dec 23, 2015
HOW CAN THE STUDY OF
PSYCHOLOGY HELP US UNDERSTAND
HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
First:What is Psychology?
“A scientific discipline designed to understand the behavior of humans.” – Simply Psychology
“Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors.” Wikipedia
“The science of mind and behavior” Webster Dictionary
“The study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting human behavior in a given context.” - Apple
Greek OriginsPsyche: Breath, spirit, soulLogia: the study of
How to “Test” it?
EXPERIMENT!!!
Wilhelm Wundt – “Father of Experimental Psychology”
Leipzig University, 1879Abnormal behaviorMental DisordersBrain Damage
Use of the word psychology in media and academia over
time.
Stanley Milgram- “Obedience"
Opener
Do you think that you would have given a dangerous shock to somebody because the researcher said that you were required to continue with the experiment?
Do you think that you would say something you knew to be wrong, just because everybody else did?
Results…
60 - 64% of participants administered a lethal shock.Even as the person on the other end
begged for help.Many different variables.
How does this inform our understanding of human behavior?
Solomon Ashe - “Conformity"
Results…
37% of choose what they know to be the wrong answer.
5% if there is a partner.
How does this inform our understanding of human behavior?
PAUL BLOOM: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF EVERYTHING
METHODS OF INVESTIGATION
Opener (9/11)
Describe in your own words what the “Hawthorn Effect” is.
What is the difference between the independent variable and dependent variable?
Methods of Investigation Field Observations
Experimenter observes behavior of people in their everyday lives.
ExperimentHypothesis, Variables (Independent/Dependent) and
ControlSample Size“Hawthorn Effect”Volunteers
Advantages?
Disadvantages?
Methods of Investigation
Cross-sectional StudiesDifferent age groups tested at same point in
time
(Research in 2014)
Longitudinal StudiesSame group studied at several points over time.
(Research in 1994, 2004, 2014)
Methods of Investigation
Case Study 1-2 individuals studied in great detail
Advantages?
Disadvantages? Survey
Collecting opinions from large numbers of people.
Advantages?
Disadvantages?
PRACTICE1. Develop a question on your own about human behavior. Ask
yourself what part of that behavior you would like to understand better. (3-5 min)
Ex: “Why are students so hyperactive in class immediately following lunch.
2. Get into groups of 4/5. Share your questions and decide on the one that you agree is most interesting. (3-5 min)
3. Develop a hypothesis. Why do you think something occurs? (3)
“I hypothesize that students are hyperactive because they do not have time to expend energy after lunch”
4. What method(s) of investigation would you use? (3-5)How would find a potential answer?What methods would you use?I would conduct an experiment with the independent variable being students who are given recess after lunch, and my measured dependent variable would be their hyperactivity after lunch.
Be prepared to share out.
PRACTICE5. Independent variables:
Nap after lunchRecess after lunchControl: Class after lunch
Dependent variable:Hyperactivity of students
Measured by:Teacher reports of student energy?Measurement of loudness of a class?Instances of class interruptions?
Be prepared to share out.
Ethics: Is my study morally ethical?
Participants come first! The rights and well-being of
participants must be the first consideration
“Informed Consent” (Voluntary) Told of possible risks Withdraw at any time Deception may be used only if
necessary- Debriefed if deception
Data must remain confidential
Clinical Psychology
Interested in mental disordersDiagnosis,
causes, treatment
Work in clinics, community mental health centers, hospitals, or private
Depression, personality disorders, schizophrenia
Counseling Psychologists
Concerned with mental disorders around challenges typical to the general populationFocus on periods of adjustment or
challenges:○ Choosing a career○ Academic stress○ Marital problems
Cognitive and Psycholinguistic Psychologists
Cognitive: Ways people
perceive, interpret, and store information
PsycholinguistsDevelopment,
structure, and meaning of language
Study mental processes: thinking, knowing, feeling, learningResearch-oriented: experiments
Experimental Psychologists
Investigate basic processes such as learning, memory, sensation, perception, cognition, motivation, emotion
Research physiological processes underlying behavior such as eating, reading, problem solvingHow does the brain effect the body?How does the body effect the brain?
Sports Psychologists
Help athletes Learn to deal with anxiety and fear of
failureMotivation and goal setting
Forensic Psychology
Apply psychology to criminal investigation and the law – “Criminal Profiling”
Popularity has increased because of sensationalized portrayal in movies and television
“Mind Hunter”John DouglasCreated FBI’s BAU
Industrial/ Organizational Psychology
Study relationship between people and organizational structures.
Main focus on workforce:Workers’ productivityJob satisfactionConsumer behaviorInteraction between humans and machines
Social Psychology
Study how people interact with one another and how they are affected by their social environments
Study individuals, groups, observable behaviors, private thoughts
Found in academic settings, advertising agencies
Developmental Psychologists
Study how people change over time
Developmental stages across human lifespan
StudyEmotional developmentLanguage acquisitionCommon traits in age groupsAgingGender differences amongst
infants
Other fields
Environmental PsychologistsRelationship between human behavior and
physical environment Geropsychologists
Adult development and aging Educational psychologists
Work in schools to assist student learning Biological Psychologists
Study relationship between physical body systems and behavior
DISCUSSION
ClinicalCounselingCognitive/ LanguageExperimentalDevelopmentalForensic
Industrial/ Organizational
SportsSocialEnvironmentalGeropsychologistsEducationalBiological
Which field of psychology do you find most interesting? Why?
DISCUSSION
Which method of investigation do you think is most effective? Why?ExperimentField ObservationCross-sectional studyLongitudinal study (over time)Case studySurvey
WHAT IS CHILD PSYCHOLOGY?
Unit 2: Nature/ Nurture
Nature“Hard-wired”“Genetic”“Inherited”“Born this way”
Nurture“Environment”RelationshipsExperiences
How do both nature and nurture play a dynamic role in making us who we become?
Unit 2: Nature/ Nurture
1. How do both nature and nurture play a dynamic role in making us who we become?
1. What traits (physical, personality, emotional, etc.) do you believe you possess because you inherited it from your biological parents (it’s genetic)? If this question does not apply to you because you don’t know your biological parents, just leave it blank. You do not need to share this with anyone if you do not want to.
2. What traits (physical, personality, emotional, etc.) do you believe you learned from the environment around you? (People, institutions, neighborhood, school, teams, media, etc.) Why?
Unit 3: Cognitive Development2. How do we use our minds to understand the
world around us and assign it meaning? What words or sentences did you say at the
very beginning of your life? What have caregivers in your life told you about what you said?
What languages can/ do you speak? How did you learn it/ them?
How do children learn differently than adults? Why is it important for caregivers and
teachers to understand how a child’s mind works?
Unit 4: Social Development
4. How do we develop an understanding of society and how it affects us?
A. How did you learn/ are you learning the difference between right and wrong?
B. Where in society do you get messages about who you should be? What do these messages tell you?
C. What do you see as your role in society?D. Where do you think inequality and
prejudice in society come from in society? What impact can they have?
General Topics
How do we use our minds to understand the world around us and assign it meaning?AttachmentEmotionsCognitionIntelligenceLanguagePersonalityIdentitySleep MoralityPunishmentParenting
#1What is Psychology?
“A scientific discipline designed to understand the behavior of humans.” – Simply Psychology
“Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors.” Wikipedia
“The science of mind and behavior” Webster Dictionary
“The study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting human behavior in a given context.” - Apple
Greek OriginsPsyche: Breath, spirit, soulLogia: the study of
#2Hawthorn Effect
It is one of several so-called effects of expectation seen in a wide range of situations. The mechanism of operation depends on the circumstances. In all cases, observed individuals behave or perform better than unsupervised individuals for a limited time if they suspect or know about the observation.
*Participants in psychological studies may be affected by knowing they are being studied
#3Teratogen
Teratogen: A drug or other substance capable of interfering with the development of a fetus, causing birth defects.
Nicotine Alcohol Pharmaceutical Drugs
#4Nature
Genes DNA Instincts Reflexes Evolution
#5Nurture
Our Environment Socialization Everything After Conception The sum of the environmental factors
influencing the behavior and traits expressed by an organism
#6Methods of Investigation
Field ObservationsExperimenter observes behavior of
people in their everyday lives.
Advantages: Real behaviors of people in natural environment. Easier to execute (vs. experiment/case study/survey)
Disadvantages: Cannot control or isolate variables. Cannot collect information on “participants”
#6Methods of Investigation
Experiment Hypothesis, Variables (Independent/Dependent) and Control Sample Size “Hawthorn Effect” Volunteers
Advantages: Isolation and control of variables Can select specific groups to study Can be repeated by others
Disadvantages: Not ‘natural’ environment Potential of behavior being affected by experiment May be difficult to plan, design, pay for, and implement
#6Methods of Investigation
Case Study 1-2 individuals studied in great detail
Advantages: Ability to study rare behaviors/phenomena Can learn in depth
Disadvantages: Difficult to apply to others Time consuming and requires participation
#6Methods of Investigation
Survey Collecting opinions from large numbers of
people.
Advantages: Large numbers of participants Relatively cheap and easy to implement
Disadvantages: Can have deceptive answers Difficult to create unbiased questions Self-selection for participation may skew data
What We Learn Before We Are Born