EN225 Lecture Notes - Quackery, Pseudoscience, Critical Thinking
Document Summary
Psychology: the discipline concerned with behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism"s physical state, mental state, and environment. Psychobabble: pseudoscience and quackery covered my a veneer of psychological and scientific sound language that appeals to the general public. (higher iq, perfect love life, or better personality are offered with ease). Gives people a sense of control and predictability in a confusing world (brain is always trying to find patterns even if there are none). Confirms our existing opinions and beliefs, where as scientific psychology challenges them. This is undesired by most. (fear of knowledge). Ex: playing beethoven to infant makes them smarter is proven to be false despite pop belief. Critical thinking: the ability and willingness to assess claims and make objective judgements on the basis of well-supported reasons and evidence, rather than emotion or anecdote.
