HPS111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Cognitive Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Scientific Method
WEEK 1: Psychology, scope and definitions
Definitions:
Psychology- the study of the mind, the study of the soul, the study of mental life, prediction and
control of behaviour, the scientific study of behaviour
Behaviour- action, organisms’ observable actions and response to the environment
Science- studying things and testing them, it’s a process where we learn, an incremental process for
knowledge acquisition based on measurement and results
Why should psych be a science?
Psychology aims to understand the way we operate and respond to the environment so we can
make informed decision on how to make the world better
Biological psychology
Characteristics about organisms, our attempts to explain behaviour are biologically plausible
Animal models can help us, ethical considerations
Sub disciplines
- Approach: Biological (behavioral genetics, neuropsych), behavioral (environment, observable
actions and responses), cognitive (thinking, attention, memory) , social (norms, culture, conflict)
- Personality (different, stability in differences), Developmental (change psychological over life)
- Clinical (disorders), forensic (justice system), organization, educational, industrial, sport, health
FOUCS QUESITONS:
How would you best define “psychology”?
The scientific study of behaviour
Define “behaviour” and provide some examples.
Behaviour is an organisms action and response to its surrounding environment, an example
is holding something hot and dropping it because it is hot
Define “science” and “the scientific method.”
Science is the study and investigation, the process where we learn based on results
What is the difference between a behavioural psychologist and a cognitive psychologist?
Behavioural psychology looks at why and what causes behaviours. Whereas cognitive
psychology looks at the thought process.
What kinds of questions might a social psychologist attempt to answer?
The relationship between individual and what impact that has
How can psychological principles be applied in the context of health?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Psychology- the study of the mind, the study of the soul, the study of mental life, prediction and control of behaviour, the scientific study of behaviour. Behaviour- action, organisms" observable actions and response to the environment. Science- studying things and testing them, it"s a process where we learn, an incremental process for knowledge acquisition based on measurement and results. Psychology aims to understand the way we operate and respond to the environment so we can make informed decision on how to make the world better. Characteristics about organisms, our attempts to explain behaviour are biologically plausible. Approach: biological (behavioral genetics, neuropsych), behavioral (environment, observable actions and responses), cognitive (thinking, attention, memory) , social (norms, culture, conflict) Personality (different, stability in differences), developmental (change psychological over life) Clinical (disorders), forensic (justice system), organization, educational, industrial, sport, health. Behaviour is an organisms action and response to its surrounding environment, an example is holding something hot and dropping it because it is hot.
