PSYC 1150 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Bias Blind Spot, Terror Management Theory, Belief Perseverance

• School: University of Windsor
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1150
• Professor: Jill Jackson

Document Summary

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, brain, and behaviour. It spans on multiple levels of psychology and william james (1842-1910) is considered the founder of american psychology. Social culture influences (social or behavioural level, involves relating to others and personal relationships) Psychological (mental or neurological level, involves thoughts, feelings and emotions) Biological (molecular or neurochemical, involves molecules and brain structure) Science is an approach to evidence (bunge, 1998), not a body of knowledge (i. e. chemistry or physics). It"s a set of attitudes and skills designed to prevent us from fooling ourselves. Empiricism is the premise that knowledge should initially be acquired through observation. Scientific theory is an explanation for a large number of findings in the natural world, including the psychological world. They generate predi(cid:272)tio(cid:374)s regardi(cid:374)g data (cid:449)e ha(cid:448)e(cid:374)"t (cid:455)et o(cid:271)served. A hypothesis is a testable predication derived from these general explanations (theories). From these hypothesis scientists can then accept, reject or revise it.