PSYA01H3 Introduction to Psychology Part
1 Summary of Chapter 1-8 Lecture Notes
from the Text book UNIVERSITY OF
TORONTO
,1.1 The Science of Psychology
Two unifying qualities of psychological science:
1. Psychology involves the study of behaviour including perceptions,
thoughts and emotions.
2. Psychology employs the scientific method in their work.
Psychology: Scientific study of behaviour, thought, and experience, and
how they can be
affected by physical, mental, social, and environmental factors.
Scientific method: Way of learning about the world
-collecting observations
-developing theories to explain them
-using theories to make predictions
(Involves hypothesis testing and construction of theories)
Hypothesis: Testable prediction about processes that can be observed and
measured.
- Can be supported or rejected (you do not PROVE a hypothesis)
- MUST be testable
Pseudoscience: Idea that is shown as science but does not actually use
basic principles of
scientific thinking/procedure.
Theory: Explanation for broad range of observations that also generates
new hypotheses
:Combines numerous findings into a whole
(General principles/explanations of some aspect of the world, including human
behaviours)
- Built from hypotheses (repeatedly tested + confirmed)
- Must be falsifiable (process helps to ensure that science is self-
correcting)
Biopsychosocial model: Explaining behavior as a product of biological,
psychological +
sociocultural factors
Ex. Social situations can affect how we think
-getting annoyed at the crowded hallway at school, can trigger the release
of
chemicals and hormones in your brain
- Biological (brain structures and chemicals, hormones, and external
substances such as drugs)
- Psychological (memories, emotions, and personalities)
- Social factors (family, peers, ethnicity, and culture)
,Scientific literacy: Ability to understand, analyze +apply scientific
information
- Knowledge gathering (What do we know about this?)
- Scientific explanation (how can science explain it?)
- Critical thinking (Can we critically evaluate the evidence?)
- Application (why is this relevant?)
1.2 How Psychology Became a Science
Science is a philosophy of knowledge that stems from two fundamental
beliefs
(psychology of science is both empiricism and determinism):
1. Empiricism is a philosophical tenet that knowledge comes through
experience.
-Knowledge about the world is based on careful observation, not on common
sense/ speculation
-Whatever we see/measure should be observable by anyone else who follows
same method
2. Determinism is the belief that all events are governed by lawful,
cause + effect relationships
Hippocrates (physician in Ancient Greece)
-Developed world’s 1st personality classification scheme
-Ancient Greeks believed that 4 humours/fluids flowed throughout body +
influenced both health and personality
Different combinations of fluids lead to specific mood and behaviours
Galen (roman physician) refined Hippocrates’s work
-4 temperaments (different combination leads to specific emotional and personality
that remain stable throughout lifetime):
- Blood (Sanguine): a tendency to be impulsive
- Yellow Bile (Choleric): a tendency to be ambitious, energetic, a bit
aggressive
- Black Bile (Melancholic): a tendency to be independent, perfectionistic,
a bit
introverted
- Phlegm (Phlegmatic): a tendency to be quiet, relaxed, and content with
life
Both attempted to categorize personalities.
Zeitgeist: General set of beliefs of a particular culture at a specific time in
history
, Materialism: Belief that humans, and other living beings are composed of
physical matter
- We are nothing more than complex machines that lack a self-conscious, self-
controlling soul.
Dualism: Belief that there are properties of humans that are not material (a
mind or soul
separate from the body)
-machine controlled by a soul
Gustav Fechner studied sensation + perception
-Interested in natural world of moving objects and energy
-Coined the term psychophysics (study of relationship between physical world
+ mental representation of that world.
- Demonstrated basic principles of how the physical and mental worlds
interact
- Developed equation to calculate perceived change in weight
Extended the formula to apply to changes in brightness, loudness +
other perceptual experiences
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection
-Genetically inherited traits that contribute to survival + reproduction are
more likely to flourish within population (Ex. Useful traits will be passed onto the
next generation)
- Explains why there is such diversity of life on earth (different traits are
beneficial in different environment)
- Theory also explained human and animal behaviour such as aggression
Clinical psychology: Field of psychology that concentrates on the
diagnosis and
treatment of psychological disorders.
Brain localization: Idea that certain parts of the brain control specific
mental
abilities + personality characteristics.
Studied in 2 different ways:
- Phrenology: Belief that the brain consisted of 27 “organs”
-dealing with mental + inherited traits
-detected by examining surface of the skull (Franz Gall +
Johann Spurzheim)
- If someone has particular trait/ ability, brain related to characteristic
would be larger
- Larger brain area cause bumps on head (identify different traits)
The other approach involve study of brain injuries + how they affect
behaviour (contradicted Phrenology, ex. bumps=injuries)
Les avantages d'acheter des résumés chez Stuvia:
Qualité garantie par les avis des clients
Les clients de Stuvia ont évalués plus de 700 000 résumés. C'est comme ça que vous savez que vous achetez les meilleurs documents.
L’achat facile et rapide
Vous pouvez payer rapidement avec iDeal, carte de crédit ou Stuvia-crédit pour les résumés. Il n'y a pas d'adhésion nécessaire.
Focus sur l’essentiel
Vos camarades écrivent eux-mêmes les notes d’étude, c’est pourquoi les documents sont toujours fiables et à jour. Cela garantit que vous arrivez rapidement au coeur du matériel.
Foire aux questions
Qu'est-ce que j'obtiens en achetant ce document ?
Vous obtenez un PDF, disponible immédiatement après votre achat. Le document acheté est accessible à tout moment, n'importe où et indéfiniment via votre profil.
Garantie de remboursement : comment ça marche ?
Notre garantie de satisfaction garantit que vous trouverez toujours un document d'étude qui vous convient. Vous remplissez un formulaire et notre équipe du service client s'occupe du reste.
Auprès de qui est-ce que j'achète ce résumé ?
Stuvia est une place de marché. Alors, vous n'achetez donc pas ce document chez nous, mais auprès du vendeur saraciousstuvia. Stuvia facilite les paiements au vendeur.
Est-ce que j'aurai un abonnement?
Non, vous n'achetez ce résumé que pour €15,84. Vous n'êtes lié à rien après votre achat.
