PSY 1001 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Fallacy, Wilhelm Wundt, Edward B. Titchener
Document Summary
Psychology: scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior. Psych levels of analysis: like rungs on a ladder, lower rungs=biological influences (brain). Higher rungs=social/cultural influences (mind aka brain in action) Naive realism: the belief that we see the world precisely as it is. Empiricism: knowledge should initially be acquired through observation. Scientific theory: explanation for a large number of findings in the natural world, including the psychological world, offer an account that ties multiple observations together. Hypothesis: testable prediction derived from a scientific theory. Confirmation bias: tendency to seek out evidence that supports our beliefs and to deny dismiss, or distort evidence that contradicts them. Belief perseverance: tendency to stick to our initial beliefs even when evidence contradicts them. Metaphysical claims: assertion about the world that is not testable. Example: religion is a moral value, untestable with data. Pseudoscience: set of claims that seems scientific but isn"t. Problem 1: opportunity costs, people may try pseudoscientific treatments rather than effective ones.
