Commitment to empiricism and scientific
research
An understanding of the influence of genes and
environment
A view of the human mind as adaptive
Common roots and history

(a system of logic)

psychology should leave the realm of speculation and of philosophy and become a science of observation and experiment.

est. first psychology lab and institute (Leizpig, Germany)

~students could earn degrees in psychology

~realized physiological process took time to occur

~used rxn time to study

A systematic way of evaulating information to research reasonable conclusions.

~So scientists are curious folks, but they
don’t just blindly accept answers to their
questions

Scientific method

a systematic procedure of observing and measuring phenomena to answer questions about what happens, when it happens, what causes it, and why

a way of finding answers to empirical question-questions that can be answered by observing the world and measuring aspects of it. (i.e. theory, hypothesis, data...)

involves observing and classifying behavior, with either no intervention by the observer or with intervention by the observer.

Advantage: esp. valuable for in the early stages of research, when trying to determine whether a phenomenon exists.

Disadvantage: errors in observation can occur because of an observer's expectations (observer's bias). Observer's presence can change the behavior being the witnessed (reactivity).

a research method that examines how variables are naturally related in the real world, w/o any attempts by the researcher to alter them

Advantages: Rely on naturally occuring relationships. May take place in a real-world setting

Disadv:cannot be used to support causal relationships. An unidentified variable may be involved

a study that tests causal hypothesis by measuring and manipulating variables.

adv: can demonstrate causal relationships

Disadv: often take place in an artificial setting

determing the levels of analysis

biological level: brain process/hormone levels

individual level: question participants/ use indirect assessments

social level: question participants/use indirect assessments

Studies that take into account the ways culture affects thoughts, feelings, and actions

Adv: examines the effect of culture on some variables of interest, thereby making pyschology more applicable around the world

Disadv:some situations and some specific words do not convey the same meaning when translated accross cultures and can leave room for alternative explanations, such as misunderstanding during the research process.

intensive examination of one person/few individuals ro one/few organizations.

Adv: can provide extensive data about one or a few individuals or organizations

Disadv: can be very subjective. If a researcher has a causal theory (i.e. people who are loners are dangerous), this theory can bias what is observed and recorded. It is not possible to generate the results from an individual to the population.

involve asking questions of participants, who then respond in any way they feel is appropriate (open-ended questions) or select from among a fixed number of options (close-ended questions

Adv: self-report methods can be used to gather data from a large number of people-easy to administer, cost-efficient, and a relatively fast way to collect data-explore new lines of questioning-can determine how responses vary over time.

disadv: people can introduce biases into their answers (self-report bias) or may not recal information accurately.

a research method in which researchers quantify perceptual or cognitive processes in response to a specific stimulus.

measure info processing while psychological tasks are being performed. Researchers measure rxn time, response accuracy, and ask participants to make stimulus judgements

Adv: relatively simple way to study cognition and perception. Less affected by observer bias or subjective reactivity.

Disadv: can be costly and time consuming. Less likely to be useful in real-world settings

~electroencephalogram (EEG)--a device that measures electricity activity in the brain

~brain imaging--a range of experimental techniques that make brain structures and brain activity visible

~position emission tomography (PET)--brain imaging that assesses metabolic activity by using a radioactive substance injected into the bloostream

~Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)--a method of brain imaging that produces high quality of images of the brain.

~functional (fMRI)--an imaging technique used to examine changes in the activity of the working humanbrain

~transcranial magnetic stimulation--use of strong magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity as a way to study brain regions.

groups of people responsible for reviewing proposed research to ensure that it meets the accepted standard of science and provides for the physical and emotional well-being of research participants

Chemical messengers
Stored in vesicles at axon tips
When released they travel across synapse
to adjacent neuron

the neurotransmitter responsible for motor control at the junction bt the nerves and muscles; also involved in mental processes such as learning, memory, sleeping, and dreaming

the neurotransmitter involved in states of arousal and awareness.

a monoamine neurotransmitter important for a wide range of pyschological activity, including emotional states, impulse, control, dreaming.

a monoamine neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and motor control

the primary inhibitory transmitter in the nervous system.

brain and spinal cord

all nerve cells in the body that are not part of the CNS. This includes the somatic and autonomic nervous system.

a section of the bottom of the brain, housing the most basic programs of survival, such as breathing, swallowing, vomiting, urination, and orgasm.

a major component of the peripheral NS; it transmits sensory signals to the CNS via nerves

a major component of PNS; it regulates the body's internal environment by stimulating glands and by maintaining internal organs such as the heart, gall bladder, and stomach

a division of the autonomic nervous system; it prepares the body for action.

a property of the brain that allows it to change as a result of experience, drugs, or injury.

study of changes in physiology, cognition, and social behavior over the life span

a process by whereby the synaptic connections in the brain that are frequently used are preserved, and those that are not are lost

biologically determined time and periods for the development of specific skills

biologically determined time periods when specific skills develop most easily

a strong emotional connection that persists over time and across circumstances

the term used to describe the ability to explain and predict other people's behavior as a result of recognizing their mental state.

the tendency for children to speak using rudimentary sentences that are missing words and grammatical markings but following a logical syntax

the maturation of skills or abilities that enable people to live in a world with other people

characteristics associated with males and females b/c of cultural influence or learning

cognitive structures that influence how people perceive the behaviors of females and males

They are depressed and socially isolated
They all have significant memory loss
Their physical abilities are limited
They cannot learn new things
They suffer from poor health
They have a lack of sexual desire
They are all bad drivers
They are all on tons of medications
They need a lot of fiber 15