PSY 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Experiment, Experimental Psychology, Sociobiology

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 1101
• Professor: Kenneth Campbell

Document Summary

What is psychology: study of the mind and mental process. Original definition of science was the study of the mind(psyche) otherwise known as the mental process. Psyche is the totality of the human mind, consciousness and unconsciousness. However, science is objective therefore there is a problem with psychology being a science (psychology is subjective). Define the variables observe the variables measure and quantify our variables. Mental processes is extremely difficult to define, where it can also not be observed, as it can also not be measured. In a true experiment we manipulate or change a variable, therefore this causes another variable to change (what we measure). Major divisions of psychology: experimental, clinical, applied. First experimental psychology lab was performed by william wundt. Basic principles of experimentation are used to explain psychological phenomena. P3a becoming aware and brain activity fluctuating from an interference (error signals) or a sudden change. Structuralism: developed by edward titchener in the u. s.