PSYCH 7A Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Telegraph Key, American Psychological Association, Margaret Floy Washburn

• School: UC-Irvine
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH 7A
• Professor: John Hagedorn

Document Summary

How psychologists study behavior and mental processes. Psychology the scientific study of behavior and mental processes; a study of the things we do and why we do them as well as the study of mental processes. Greek roots: psyche (mind) and logos (study) Behavior anything an organism does that is directly observable. Examples: eating, crying, dancing, walking, etc. (what we do) Mental processes the internal, private experiences an organism has that cannot be directly observed. Examples: inward, subjective experiences; thinking, imagining, dreaming, perception, memory, emotions. Pure research research conducted without concern for immediate applications. Examples: research for its own sake; no real practical applications. Applied research research conducted in an effort to find solutions to particular problems. Examples: research trying to solve practical problem. Pure research: trying to analyze visual perception through fog. Applied research: determine what shapes and colors are best seen through the fog (for drivers, make driving safer)