Welcome to Psychology!

Mrs. Parsons

Room ?

What is “Psychology”?

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes of animals and humans.

• The goals of psychology are:– Description– Explanation– Prediction– Influence

Topics to be Discussed

• Memory and Stress• History and Research• Brain, Body, and

Behavior• Sensation and

Perception• Learning and

Thinking

• Social Psychology• Motivation and

Emotion• Personality• Disorders and

Therapy• Testing and

Consciousness

Grading

• 60% = MAJOR GRADES (tests and projects)

• 40% = DAILY GRADES (class assignments, quizzes, homework, participation, etc.)– There are typically 10-12 daily grades, and

three major grades a semester.

Tardies

• Any student will be counted tardy by the instructor if they are not inside the classroom when the tardy bell finishes ringing.

• Five tardies equals a “U” in conduct. A “U” will mean that you may not exempt the final, and can make you ineligible for some extracurricular activities.

Make-Up Work

• For test, the student has 5 school days to makeup the test. Projects are due the day the student returns. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain missed assignments from the instructor.

• I will not remind you to make up your tests or projects.

Late Work

• Late work is not acceptable. However, I will accept it at a penalty of 11 points off each day it is late. Once the assignment is given a grade of a “0”, it cannot be made up.

• For major grades, I will only accept a project two days late.

Notebooks and Supplies

• You must have the following supplies every day:– Pen or pencil– Paper or notebook to take notes– Other project supplies as needed

Headphones/Electronics/Cell Phones

• Electronics are not allowed in the classroom, without the teacher’s permission. This includes music players, portable gaming devices, and personal computers.

• Cell phones are to be off, not on silent, and they will be collected and turned into the office if they are seen in my classroom.

Food/Drinks in the Classroom

• Only water in clear water bottles is allowed in my classroom.

Dress Code

• All dress code guidelines in the CFISD Student Handbook will be enforced.

Academic Dishonesty

• There is ZERO tolerance for academic dishonesty.

• This includes cheating, copying, plagiarizing, fabrications, or falsification.

• If there is academic dishonesty, the student will receive a “0” for the assignment, receive a phone call home, and an office referral, which could lead to suspension.

Classroom Procedures• Be Prepared

– Come to class on time with homework completed, and supplies

• Be Positive– Respect your classmates and instructor

• Be Polite– Wait in your seat until the dismissal bell

rings

• Be Proud– Clean up after yourselves…this is YOUR

classroom too!

Now, let’s get to know each other!

Panther Pride,Live the Tradition

Monday, August 24th

2nd Period

Polite in the Hallways/Stairwells

Being Polite in the Hallways is…

Tuesday, August 25

• Objective: Discuss memory processes

• Pick up collage handout

Memory and Forgetting-As you take notes, pay attention to

the bottom of the slides.

“TRQ” indicates that the answer to a test review question is on the slide. I will only do this for your

first test

Information Processing Model

• Encoding – process of getting information into the memory system

• Storage – retention encoded information over time

• Retrieval – process of getting information out of memory storage

• TRQ: #1

Information Processing Model

Let’s test your memory• Watch the following clip, and pay close

attention to the details

Questions

• What was the first layer mentioned in the clip?

• What was the topping on the pizza?

• Were any of the characters wearing a t-shirt?

How difficult is it to memorize 30 random numbers?

Using Short Term Memory

You have 30 seconds to memorize the following

numbers2 1 6 9 6

4 6 1 5 1

9 9 7 2 5

2 4 6 8 0

1 2 9 6 1

6 0 8 9 4

Now write them down, in sequential order

• 4-9 Correct: Average

• 10-19 Correct: Extraordinary

• 20-29 Correct: Brilliant

Which task was easier?

Now watch a super-memorist demonstrate his abilities

Super Memorist-#20

Deja Vu

• déjà vu is a feeling that what you are experiencing, you have experienced it before

• Have you ever felt like you had déjà vu?

• Psychologists associate déjà vu with the information processing model

• Let’s see for ourselves.

Do you have Deja Vu?

Listen to the following words carefully...

REST

TIRED

AWAKE

DREAM

SNORE

BED

EAT

SLUMBER

SOUND

COMFORT

WAKE

NIGHT

Now write as many of the words down as you can...

• Do you remember the word “Aardvark”?

• How about the word “Sleep”?

• Sure about that?

Rest Tired Awake Dream

Snore Bed Eat Slumber

Sound Comfort Wake Night

Panther Pride,Live the Tradition

Tuesday, August 25

2nd Period

Proud in the Hallways/Stairwells

Being proud in the hallways is…

Wednesday, August 26

• Objective: Analyze how humans encode, store, and retrieve information

• Signed Syllabus is due

Encoding:Serial Position Effect

How many US presidents can you name?

• On a sheet of paper, list the names of all the US presidents you can, in order.

• You have two minutes, and you must work by yourself.

US Presidents

• Listen as I read the list of presidents.

• How many of you put “Washington”?

• How many of you listed “Obama”?

• What about “Lincoln”?

This exercise is a demonstration of the serial-position effect

Serial Position Effect

• Tendency to recall the first and last items in a list more easily

• Primacy effect – the ability to recall information near the beginning of a list

• Recency effect – the ability to recall information near the end of a list

• TRQ: #2

Primacy/Recency Effect

Encoding: Automatic and

Effortful Processing

Automatic Processing

• Unconscious process of encoding certain information without effort

• Usually information on space, time and frequency

• Example: Reading a book for fun

• TRQ: #3

Effortful Processing

• Encoding that requires attention and conscious effort

• The best processing is through rehearsal or practice.

• Example: Reading an assigned textbook

• TRQ: #3

Automatic/Effortful Processing

Encoding:Encoding Meaning

Encoding Exercise

• Read the instructions at the top of the page silently.

• This activity will demonstrate semantic encoding.

Semantic Encoding

• Encoding of meaning

• Encoding information that is meaningful enhances recall

• TRQ: #4

Self-Reference Effect

• Now get out a sheet of scratch paper and number to 18.

• Listen to the adjectives as I read them one at a time.

• Circle the number if the adjective could describe you.

Self-Reference Effect

• Now, flip your paper over, and number to 18.

• List all the adjectives you can remember hearing.

• Then fill out the handout.

Self-Reference Effect

• Enhanced semantic encoding of information that is personally relevant

• Making information meaningful to a person by making it relevant to one’s life

• TRQ: #5

Overlearning

• Continuing to rehearse even after it has been memorized

• Rehearsing past the point of mastery• Helps ensure information will be available

even under stress• For example, athletes might use this

technique during practice before a game• TRQ: #6

Panther Pride,Live the Tradition

Wednesday, August 26

2nd Period

Prepared in the Hallways/Stairwells

Being prepared in the hallways is…

Thursday, August 27

• Objective: Analyze how humans encode, store, and retrieve information

• Extra-credit collage is due tomorrow

Encoding:Spacing of Rehearsal

Spacing Effect

• The tendency for distributed practice to yield better retention than is achieved through massed practice

• TRQ: #7

Distributed Practice

• Spreading rehearsal out in several sessions separated by period of time

• Usually enhances the recalling of the information

Massed Practice

• Putting all rehearsal together in one long session (cramming)

• Not as effective as distributed practice

• TRQ: #7

Rehearsal

• Conscious repetition of information

• The more time spent on rehearsal, the more information one tends to remember.

• TRQ: #8

Rehearsal and Retention

Encoding:

Semantic Encoding

Acoustic Encoding

• Encoding information based on the sounds of the information

• Auditory information is held in sensory memory for 3-4 seconds

• TRQ: #9

Acoustic Encoding

Visual Encoding

• Encoding information based on the images of the information

• Iconic memory is a momentary sensory memory of visual data

• TRQ: 10

Visual Encoding

Encoding:Encoding Imagery

Encoding Imagery

• Visual images easily encode

• Especially extremely positive or negative images

Encoding:Organizing Information

Chunking

Take ten seconds to memorize the above line of letters.

Chunking

Take ten seconds to memorize the above line of letters.

Chunking

Chunking

• Organizing information into meaningful units

• More information can be encoded if organized into meaningful chunks.

• TRQ: #13

Storage

Three Storage Systems

• Three distinct storage systems :

– Sensory Memory

– Short-Term Memory (includes Working Memory)

– Long-Term Memory

Storage:Sensory Memory

Sensory Memory

• Brief, initial coding of sensory information in the memory system

– Iconic store – visual information

– Echoic store – sound information

• Information held just long enough to make a decision on its importance

Storage:Short-Term Memory

Short-Term Memory

• Part of your memory system that contains information you are conscious aware of before it is stored more permanently or forgotten

• Holds approximately seven, plus or minus two, chunks of information

• Can retain the information as long as it is rehearsed

• Also called “working memory”• TRQ: #11

Short-Term Memory

Storage:Long-Term Memory

Long-Term Memory

• Relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system

• Holds memories without conscious effort

• TRQ: #12

Flashbulb Memory

• Vivid, clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

• Can be personal memories or centered around a shared event

Storage:Explicit and Implicit

Memories

Explicit Memory

• Memory of facts and experiences • Processed through the hippocampus

• TRQ: #14

Explicit Memories

Explicit Memories

Implicit Memory

• Memory of skills and procedures • Processed through the cerebellum

• TRQ: #14

Implicit Memories

Implicit Memories

Retrieval

Retrieval Exercise

• Remembering the Seven Dwarfs.

Step One

• On a sheet of paper, silently list the names of the seven dwarfs that appear in the Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

• You have ninety seconds to do this

• When you are finished, turn your paper over, and wait silently

Step Two

• Let’s Discuss:– How difficult was this task?– Did you have the feeling that you knew the

name, but were unable to retrieve it?• This is called “Tip of the Tongue” (TOT)

phenomenon

Step Three

• Look at your list and examine the order that you recalled the names. Is there any pattern?

• Would you do better if you only had to recognize the names? – You would only have to decide if the

information is correct or not– This is called “Recognition”

Silently, decide which are correct

• Grouchy• Gabby• Fearful• Sleepy• Happy• Jumpy• Hopeful• Bashful

• Droopy• Dopey• Sniffy• Wishful• Sneezy• Doc• Pop• Grumpy

The Correct List

• Sleepy• Happy

• Bashful

• Dopey

• Sneezy• Doc

• Grumpy

Step 5

• Now, flip your paper over and once again, list the seven dwarfs

• You have sixty seconds

Debrief

• When you were first asked to list the seven dwarves, you were using your long-term memory

• If you were able to successfully list the dwarves the second time, then you were using your short-term memory

• Your short-term memory can hold seven pieces of information. Coincidence?

Retrieval

• The process of getting information out of memory storage

• Two forms of retrieval

– Recall

– Recognition

Recall

• Type of retrieval in which you must search for information that you previously stored

• Essay, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer test questions test recall

• TRQ: #15

Recognition

• Type of retrieval in which must identify items learned earlier

• Multiple choice and matching test questions test recognition

• TRQ: #15

Retrieval

Retrieval: Context

Context Effect

• Enhanced ability to retrieve information when you are in an environment similar to the one in which you encoded the information

Context Effect

Retrieval:State Dependency

State Dependent Memory

• Enhanced ability to retrieve information when you are in the same physical and emotional state you were in when you encoded the information

• The retrieval state is congruent with the encoding state

Panther Pride,Live the Tradition

Thursday, August 27

2nd Period

Positive in the Hallways/Stairwells

Being positive in the hallways is…

Friday, August 28

• Objective: Apply memory enhancement techniques to everyday life

• Extra-Credit Collage due

Exploratorium

• Explore this website for a few minutes to learn memory enhancement techniques, and to play memory games

• Memory Games

Forgetting and Memory Construction

Information Processing Model

• Encoding – process of getting information into the memory system

• Storage - retention of encoded information over time

• Retrieval – process of getting encoded information out of memory storage

Forgetting as Encoding Failure

Encoding Failures

• People fail to encode information because:

– It is unimportant to them

– It is not necessary to know the information

– A decrease in the brain’s ability to encode

– TRQ: #16

Which is the Right Penny?(From Nickerson & Adams, 1979)

Which is the Right Penny?(From Nickerson & Adams, 1979)

Forgetting as Storage Failure

Hermann Ebbinghaus (1850-1909)

• German philosopher who did early memory studies with nonsense syllables

• Developed the forgetting curve, also called the “retention curve” or “Ebbinghaus curve”

• TRQ: #18

The Forgetting Curve(Adapted from Ebbinghaus, 1885)

Forgetting Exercise

• The rumor chain

Permastore Memory

• Long-term memories that are especially resistant to forgetting and are likely to last a lifetime

• TRQ: #19

Storage Failure

• Occurs when information in our memory decays, and is forgotten

• For example, do you remember what you ate for lunch last Wednesday?

• TRQ: #20

Memory Loss

• Most memory loss occurs within a few days of encoding

• What happens to information you study after you have been tested on it?

• TRQ: #21

Forgetting as Retrieval Failure:

Interference

Interference

• A retrieval problem when one memory gets in the way of remembering another

• Two types of interference:

– Proactive interference

– Retroactive interference

Proactive Interference

• When an older memory disrupts the recall of a newer memory

• TRQ: #22

Proactive Interference

Retroactive Interference

• When a more recent memory disrupts the recall of an older memory

• TRQ: #22

Retroactive Interference

Forgetting as Retrieval Failure:

Motivated Forgetting

Repression• Part of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory

• Process of moving anxiety-producing memories to the unconscious

• Supposed means of protecting oneself from painful memories

• Not well-supported by research; stressful incidents are actually more likely to be encoded

• TRQ: #23, 24

Memory Construction

Memory Jigsaw Analogy

• Memories, rather than being like a video tape, are formed as bits and pieces.

• People may retrieve only some of the pieces of the memory

Misinformation Effect

• Incorporating misleading information into a memory of an event

• Affects eyewitness testimony

• TRQ: #25

Elizabeth Loftus (1944- )

• Does research in memory construction

• Has found that subjects’ memories vary based on the wording of questions

• Demonstrated the misinformation effect

• TRQ: #26

Misinformation Effect

Memory Construction:

Children’s Recall

Children’s Testimony on Abuse

• Research has shown children’s testimony to be unreliable

• Children are very open to suggestions

• As children mature their memories improve

Watch the following clip on children as witnesses in abuse

cases

• Need to get Quicktime player, or see if Google Videos will work

Accurate Interviewing Methods

• To promote accuracy with children’s testimony the interviewer should:

– Phrase questions in a way the child can understand

– Have no prior contact with the child

– Use neutral language and do not lead or suggest answers

Memory Construction:

Recovered Memories

Accuracy of Memories

Homework

• This will be due Monday, no exceptions!

Panther Pride,Live the Tradition

Friday, August 28

2nd Period

Hallway Expectations

Hallway Expectations

The End