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PsychologyPsychology

An IntroductionAn Introduction

AIMS OF LESSONAIMS OF LESSON

To develop an understanding of what To develop an understanding of what Psychology is and what Psychology isn’tPsychology is and what Psychology isn’t

To explore how Psychology has shaped our To explore how Psychology has shaped our worldworld

To have some fun with some simple To have some fun with some simple experimentsexperiments

Psyche = Mind;Psyche = Mind;Logos = Knowledge or StudyLogos = Knowledge or Study

Once defined as study of the mindOnce defined as study of the mind Now broader definition to include behaviour Now broader definition to include behaviour

tootoo Psychologists study mind and behaviour Psychologists study mind and behaviour scientificallyscientifically

What What isis psychology? psychology?

What is the Mind?What is the Mind?

Refers to experiences or the mental processes and Refers to experiences or the mental processes and experiences that cannot be directly observed.experiences that cannot be directly observed.– any response that is internal or hidden from view and any response that is internal or hidden from view and

cannot be directly observedcannot be directly observed

Psychology relies on inferences, or assumptions, about Psychology relies on inferences, or assumptions, about underlying processes on the basis of observable underlying processes on the basis of observable behaviour.behaviour.– An An inferenceinference is a logical conclusion which is based on is a logical conclusion which is based on

available evidence.available evidence.

What is behaviour?What is behaviour?

BehaviourBehaviour refers to any observable action made by a living person refers to any observable action made by a living person

or animal.or animal. is best described as any kind of response that can is best described as any kind of response that can

actually be seen and measured.actually be seen and measured.

Examples of behaviour include:Examples of behaviour include: EatingEating SleepingSleeping SneezingSneezing Watching T.V.Watching T.V. RunningRunning

What is Behaviour?What is Behaviour?

Consider each activity listed below and state whether or not you Consider each activity listed below and state whether or not you think it is a behaviour.think it is a behaviour.

Experiencing butterflies in the stomachExperiencing butterflies in the stomachDreamingDreamingBlinkingBlinking

HeartbeatHeartbeatToothacheToothache

Planning an excuse to get out of a datePlanning an excuse to get out of a dateSinging a song aloudSinging a song aloud

Writing a letterWriting a letterExperiencing an itchExperiencing an itch

Reading the time on your watchReading the time on your watch

ΨΨ is the symbol for is the symbol for PsychologyPsychology

ΨΨ is the Greek letter psi and it is is the Greek letter psi and it is the international shorthand symbol the international shorthand symbol for the word Psychology. for the word Psychology.

You will often see it in text books You will often see it in text books or anything relating to the subject.or anything relating to the subject.

Is Psychology just common sense?Is Psychology just common sense?

ΨΨ It might be common sense to say that some It might be common sense to say that some football fans behave badly because they are football fans behave badly because they are hooligans….hooligans….

ΨΨ How do we know this? How do we know this?ΨΨ Do we have evidence for this explanation? Do we have evidence for this explanation?ΨΨ Has anyone done any Has anyone done any research research on this topic?on this topic?

- effects of crowds/groups on individuals: - effects of crowds/groups on individuals: deindividuationdeindividuation

- Effects of alcohol on individuals- Effects of alcohol on individuals

Scientific StudyScientific StudyScientific studyScientific study refers to the approach which is refers to the approach which is used in psychology. used in psychology.

Psychologists use the highly disciplined methods of Psychologists use the highly disciplined methods of science e.g. experimentation and carefully science e.g. experimentation and carefully controlled observation.controlled observation.

Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Psychology differ Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Psychology differ in what they study, yet each uses the scientific in what they study, yet each uses the scientific method trying to achieve common goals of: method trying to achieve common goals of:

descriptiondescription, , prediction, explanation and controlprediction, explanation and control

What is Research?What is Research?

ΨΨ Research is a way of investigating something. We Research is a way of investigating something. We look at it in depth.look at it in depth.

There are several Research MethodsThere are several Research MethodsΨΨ LaboratoryLaboratory ExperimentExperimentΨΨ Field ExperimentField ExperimentΨΨ Natural ExperimentNatural ExperimentΨΨ ObservationObservationΨΨ SurveySurveyΨΨ C CorrelationorrelationΨΨ Case StudyCase Study

Some psychological research Some psychological research topics:topics:

Importance of love in childhoodImportance of love in childhood

development of language development of language

accuracy of eyewitness testimonyaccuracy of eyewitness testimony

PRO SOciAL HELPING BEHAVIOURPRO SOciAL HELPING BEHAVIOUR

TREATMENT OF DEPRESSIONTREATMENT OF DEPRESSION

causes of ADDICTIONcauses of ADDICTION

Say the colour of the words in Say the colour of the words in the next slide.the next slide.

GREEN

BLUE

YELLOW

BLACK

BLUE

YELLOW

RED

WHITE

GREEN

RED

BLACK

BLUE

RED

YELLOW

ORANGE

GREEN

PURPLE

GREEN

BLACK

YELLOW

The effect you experienced is The effect you experienced is the STROOP INTERFERENCE the STROOP INTERFERENCE

EFFECT.EFFECT.

TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS:TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS: Some behavior is AUTOMATIC. It’s Some behavior is AUTOMATIC. It’s

impossible NOT to read color impossible NOT to read color words. words.

Would a person who cannot read Would a person who cannot read

experience the effect?experience the effect?

WHEN MIGHT THIS BE A USEFUL WHEN MIGHT THIS BE A USEFUL

TOOL TO USE?TOOL TO USE?

Now we are going to do a simple activity involving letters of the alphabet.

Based on your gut feelings, quickly write down:

1.Your six FAVOURITE letters

2.Your six LEAST FAVOURITE letters

Look over each list and circle all of the letters that occur in your own first name. Count the number of circled letters in each list.

Which list included more of theletters from your own first

name??

The preference for the letters in one’sown name is the name letter effect.

TO THINK ABOUT: Would people bemore likely to purchase a product if the

product resembled his or her name?

Which center circle is Which center circle is larger?larger?

Here are the same Here are the same circles again.circles again.

Do you see the flashing Do you see the flashing dots? dots?

The flashing is all in your head.The flashing is all in your head.

What do Psychologists do? What do Psychologists do?

They explain behaviourThey explain behaviour

But But how how do they explain it?do they explain it?

Many different Many different APPROACHESAPPROACHES or or PERSPECTIVESPERSPECTIVES to explaining behaviour to explaining behaviour

BEHAVIOURAL APPROACHBEHAVIOURAL APPROACH

ΨΨ Perhaps we Perhaps we learn learn behaviour…. behaviour….

ΨΨ This explanation is called This explanation is called Learning TheoryLearning Theory and and is based on is based on ConditioningConditioning

ΨΨ There are two types of There are two types of ConditioningConditioning

ΨΨ Classical Conditioning Classical Conditioning

ΨΨ Operant Conditioning Operant Conditioning

Classical Conditioning. Ivan PavlovClassical Conditioning. Ivan Pavlov

Unconditioned stiumulusUnconditioned stiumulus ucs (food) ucs (food) Unconditioned responseUnconditioned response ucr (salivation)ucr (salivation)Conditioned stimulus Conditioned stimulus cs (bell)cs (bell)Conditioned response Conditioned response cr (salivation)cr (salivation)

ucs (food) +cs (bell) ucr (salivation)ucs (food) +cs (bell) ucr (salivation)cs (bell) cr (salivation)cs (bell) cr (salivation)

The dog sees the food and salivates. Then the dog sees the food at the same time as a The dog sees the food and salivates. Then the dog sees the food at the same time as a bell is rung. It salivates. Then the dog hears the bell, associates it with the food, and bell is rung. It salivates. Then the dog hears the bell, associates it with the food, and salivates. The dog has been conditioned to salivate at the sound of the bell.salivates. The dog has been conditioned to salivate at the sound of the bell.

Have you been classically Have you been classically conditioned?conditioned?

At the dentist …are you frightened as you At the dentist …are you frightened as you walk through the door? As you sit in the walk through the door? As you sit in the chair? chair?

Going to the dentist is Going to the dentist is associatedassociated with pain with pain – you expect pain whenever you go to the – you expect pain whenever you go to the dentistdentist

Operant ConditioningOperant ConditioningB F SkinnerB F Skinner

The ratThe rat’’s behaviour is s behaviour is ‘‘shapedshaped’’ until it until it ‘‘learnslearns’’ that it will be that it will be reinforced (rewarded) if it presses the food lever!reinforced (rewarded) if it presses the food lever!

Why Operant? Why Operant? When an animal performs a behaviour, it When an animal performs a behaviour, it

operates operates on the environmenton the environment..

Possible consequences of behaviourPossible consequences of behaviour

ΨΨ positive reinforcementpositive reinforcement..pleasurable reward, so ..pleasurable reward, so behaviour will be repeatedbehaviour will be repeated

ΨΨ negative reinforcementnegative reinforcement..performing a ..performing a behaviour that will stop an unpleasant stimulusbehaviour that will stop an unpleasant stimulus

ΨΨ punishmentpunishment .. an unpleasant response which .. an unpleasant response which will stop the behaviourwill stop the behaviour

Little AlbertLittle Albert

Is Is youryour behaviour conditioned or behaviour conditioned or learned?learned?

ΨΨ What do you do when you hear a bell ring? What do you do when you hear a bell ring?

ΨΨ Could you touch a spider? Could you touch a spider?

ΨΨ Have you ever been rewarded for a behaviour? Have you ever been rewarded for a behaviour?

Psychoanalytic TheoryPsychoanalytic Theory

ΨΨ Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud’s theory of personality ’s theory of personality (Psychoanalytic Theory) and treatment for (Psychoanalytic Theory) and treatment for abnormal behaviour called Psychoanalysis.abnormal behaviour called Psychoanalysis.

ΨΨ The theory explains human development in The theory explains human development in terms of an innate drive (something we are born terms of an innate drive (something we are born with e.g. pleasure) and early experience (the with e.g. pleasure) and early experience (the extent to which the desires were gratified) extent to which the desires were gratified)

Structure of the Freudian Structure of the Freudian PersonalityPersonality

ΨΨ Freud assumed that the mind is divided into 3 Freud assumed that the mind is divided into 3 parts: parts: Id, EgoId, Ego and and SuperegoSuperego

Defence MechanismsDefence MechanismsΨΨ RepressionRepression: Keep threats out of consciousness.: Keep threats out of consciousness.

ΨΨ Displacement: Move target of emotions e.g. aggression Displacement: Move target of emotions e.g. aggression to someone/something else.to someone/something else.

ΨΨ Projection: Attribute undesirable characteristics to Projection: Attribute undesirable characteristics to someone else..someone else..””itit’’s not me its not me it’’s yous you””..

ΨΨ Denial: Refuse to accept the reality of an event. Denial: Refuse to accept the reality of an event.

ΨΨ Intellectualisation: Remove emotions from a Intellectualisation: Remove emotions from a threatening event.threatening event.

ΨΨ Examples? Examples?

Cognitive /Information Processing Cognitive /Information Processing TheoryTheory

Cognitive Psychologists believe it is internal, Cognitive Psychologists believe it is internal, mental processes that can explain mental processes that can explain behaviourbehaviour

Began in the 1950s around the time of the Began in the 1950s around the time of the first computersfirst computers

Examples of processesExamples of processes

MemoryMemory AttentionAttention SchemasSchemas ThinkingThinking AttributionAttribution PerceptionPerception Information processingInformation processing Social cognitionSocial cognition

Biological ApproachBiological Approach

All behaviour normal and abnormal, is All behaviour normal and abnormal, is based in physiological processes, especially based in physiological processes, especially the brain but also including other parts of the the brain but also including other parts of the nervous system and the endocrine nervous system and the endocrine (glandular) system.(glandular) system.

THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY TRUE !!THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY TRUE !! What behaviour can you attribute to What behaviour can you attribute to

biology???biology???

ExamplesExamples

Brain structureBrain structure – link between Broca – link between Broca’’s and Wernickes and Wernicke’’s s area and language; the pineal gland and biological area and language; the pineal gland and biological rhythmsrhythms

Brain functionBrain function: electrical activity – EEG stages of sleep: electrical activity – EEG stages of sleep Brain functionBrain function: neurotransmitters – increase in dopamine : neurotransmitters – increase in dopamine

activity in schizophrenia, decrease in serotonin in activity in schizophrenia, decrease in serotonin in depression, increase in pleasure/euphoria ?depression, increase in pleasure/euphoria ?

Physiological arousalPhysiological arousal – skin conductance responses, – skin conductance responses, heart rate, increase with arousal state; hormones heart rate, increase with arousal state; hormones (adrenaline)(adrenaline)

Functional MRI (fMRI)Functional MRI (fMRI)

Applies MRI technique to blood flow in the Applies MRI technique to blood flow in the brain. So can picture the brain brain. So can picture the brain ‘‘in actionin action’’, e.g. , e.g. look for variations in brain activity across look for variations in brain activity across different areas during speech and other different areas during speech and other behavioursbehaviours

Good spatial resolution (3 mm), no injections Good spatial resolution (3 mm), no injections or radioactivity; but strong magnetic field, so or radioactivity; but strong magnetic field, so any metal interferesany metal interferes

Positron Emission TomographyPositron Emission Tomography

PETPET: injection of e.g. : injection of e.g. radioactive glucose; taken radioactive glucose; taken up by most active areas, up by most active areas, emits radioactivity which emits radioactivity which can be recorded and built can be recorded and built into a picture of into a picture of brain brain activityactivity

Uses injections and Uses injections and radioactivity, so number of radioactivity, so number of scans limited and only scans limited and only adults used.adults used.

Spatial resolution not as Spatial resolution not as good as fMRIgood as fMRI

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

In pairs …In pairs … Choose two perspectives from your text Choose two perspectives from your text

book and read relevant sectionsbook and read relevant sections Think about how they are similar and how Think about how they are similar and how

they are different – make notesthey are different – make notes Fill in the Compare and Contrast documentFill in the Compare and Contrast document