PSYC 100 Chapter : PSYC 100 - Lecture 1 Notes

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Sherri Atwood

Document Summary

The scienti c study of behaviour and mental processes ! Scienti c: answering questions objectively based on empirical methods (observation. Mental processes: thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, motivations, subjective experiences. Tries to describe and understand causes of behaviour ! To predict how people and animals will behave under certain conditions! To in uence/control behaviour by understanding the causes of behaviour! Make use of research evidence rather than rely on popular opinion, common sense or intuition! Look for alternative explanations & perspectives ! Empirical research relies on or is derived from observation, experimentation, measurement. Critical thinking questions what"s the claim, is the source credible, what"s the evidence for that claim, are there other explanations, what"s the appropriate conclusion. Biological brain, neurotransmitters, survival, re exes, sensations! Psychological thoughts, emotions, moods, choices, behaviours! Environmental in uences, culture, education, relationships ! Plato nativism is the idea that certain kinds of knowledge are inborn or innate. (nurture)!