PSY 103 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Abraham Maslow, Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky
Document Summary
Research in psychology provides information about the basic mechanisms that govern mental and behavioral processes. The scientific method: consists of a set of orderly steps used to analyze and solve problems. It uses objectively collected information as the factual basis for drawing conclusions. Behavior: means by which organisms adjust to their environment. Observed within a given behavioral setting and in the broader social or cultural context. Subject: human (usually) or near human animal. Understanding the mental processes behind human action is the main goal of psychology. It is a combination of biological, cognitive and health sciences. It attempts to the describe, explain, predict and control behavior. Reports observations about the behavior of organisms and the conditions under which they occur. Broadest level of analysis: behavior of the whole person within complex social and cultural contexts. The next level investigates finer units of behavior. Psychology attempts to describe behavior objectively and not subjectively.