PSY1011 Lecture Notes - Skeptical Movement, Albert Bandura, Belief Perseverance
20 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Scientific study of the mind, brain & behaviour. Ladder of analysis, lower levels tied closely to biological influences and higher levels tied most closely to social influences. People differ from each other in thinking, emotions, personality and behaviour. Help to explain why we each respond in different ways to the same situation. Eg: an insulting comment from a boss. The fact that we mutually influence each others" behaviour. Belief that we see the world precisely as it is. Explanation of a large number of findings in the natural world. Tendency to seek out evidence that supports our hypothesis and deny evidence that contradicts them. Tendency to stick to our initial beliefs even when evidence contradicts them. Even when we are told that we are wrong we don"t completely wipe our mental slates clean and start from scratch. Claim about the world that is not testable. Eg: existence of god, the soul, afterlife.
