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