PSYC 300 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Scientific Method, Longitudinal Study, Personality Psychology
24 Sep 2020
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Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental process . Primarily ianterested in human behavior but also behavior of other animals. Behavior = anything a person or animal does. From simple- reflexes, sensations, basic learning and memory. To complex- language, morality, complex reasoning, behavior in groups, love, hate, help, hurt, hope dream, grieve, self-reflect. And- think about why people do what they do. Science is defined by its method, not by its content. Don"t need electricity, chemicals, or blood and guts to do science. Psychology often takes ordinary, everyday behavior as subject matter- but examines it with standard (rigorous) scientific methods. Uses empirical methods to test hypotheses and generate theory about the causes of behavior. Not about describing how people behave (description) but why people behave as they do (explanation/theory) Challenging to do when examining complex human behavior. Can"t just ask people why they did it- don"t know or will lie.
