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Evolution of Psychology: - Investigating Human Behavior Scientifically
Evolution of Psychology: - Investigating Human Behavior Scientifically
Evolution of Psychology
- Investigating human behavior scientifically:
- formulate precise behavioral questions and test possible answers
through systematic observation.
- Psychology evolved from early speculation about behavior to modern
science.
- Psyche: soul & logos: study of a subject. Psychology – “the study of the
mind”.
- Originated through philosophers and physiologists who were interested in
the mind (how the
mind and body interact?)
•By 1950’s Psychoanalytic theory & behaviorism were popular but people
said these thoughts were “dehumanizing”. Both theories suggested humans
were not the masters of their destinies.
• WWII impacted needs for psychologists. Veterans had psychological scars &
needed treatment
Scientific Investigation
- formulate a hypothesis out of theory
naïve realism – when people think that they’re right and the opponent
is wrong/bias
- select research method & design the study
How to put the hypothesis to an empirical(observational) test. Then
detailed plan
- Collect data
Tests, surveys etc. are ways of getting data, sometimes fast, others
long.
- Analyze date & conclude
Data usually turned into numbers (stats) analyzed if hypothesis
rejected/approved
- Report Findings
Write summary of research and findings and submit to science or
journal
• Goes through peer review*
• Case study research: investigators analyze many case studies for patterns
to draw conclusions.
See what they expect, bc focus on info that fits with expectations that leans
towards the theory.
Nervous System
Neurons: individual cells receive integrate and transmit information. Mainly
communicate with other neurons and some outside with the nervous system.
Glia: cells in the nervous system providing types of support for neurons. (over
50% of brain vol.)
Neural Impulse
An electro-chemical reaction. Fluids containing electrically charged atoms
and molecules – ions.
Resting Potential – stable negative charge, cell is inactive.
Action Potential – brief change in neuron charge, travelling along an axon.
Absolute refractory period – max. time after action potential when another
action potential cannot begin. “down time”.
•neural transmission only take a few thousandths of a second.
synaptic cleft – gap between terminal button of neuron and cell membrane of
another neuron.
presynaptic neuron – sends the signal across the gap
postsynaptic neuron – receives the signal
postsynaptic potential – voltage change at receptor site on postsynaptic
membrane.
excitatory: positive voltage shift
inhibitory: negative voltage shift
•millions of neurons must fire to create thoughts or twitches.
Hereditary Influence
Family Studies: examination of blood relatives to see how much they
resemble in a trait.
- Closer relatives look more alike because they share more of the same
genes.
- Schizophrenic relatives have more of a chance of developing the disease.
- Family studies provide info on heredity but not full because they share the
same environment.