PS101 Chapter Notes -Color Vision, Gestalt Psychology, Lucid Dream
Document Summary
Psychology: defined generally as the discipline concerned with behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism"s physical state, mental state, and external environment. Gives people a sense of control and predictability in a confusing world. Confirms our existing beliefs and prejudices (where as scientific psychologist challenges them) Assumption: assumptions are beliefs that are taken for granted. When an assumption or beliefs keeps us from considering the evidence fairly or causes us to ignore the evidence completely, it becomes a bias. Bias: when our decision is swayed a certain way or leans towards one side. Often a bias remains hidden until our beliefs are challenged and we get defensive and angry. Argument by anecdote: generalizing to everyone fro a personal experience or a few examples. Anecdotes are often the source of stereotyping as well. Example: one friend who hates her school means that everybody hates it. One dishonest welfare mother means they"re all dishonest.
