Intro to Psychology Lecture: Key Themes

Overview

• Humans are complex. Understanding human behavior requires a scientific approach.
• Multiple determinants of behavior: Behavior typically has more than one cause.

Key Themes in Psychology

Trust and First Impressions

• Why do we trust strangers?
  • Examples from students:
    • Openness and friendliness.
    • Recommendations or trust from others.
    • Acts of unsolicited help.
    • Positive first impressions.
• Why don’t we trust some people?
  • Examples from students:
    • Insincerity.
    • Negative comments or behaviors.
    • Gossiping.
    • Self-interest.
• Example Story: The curious case of a woman asking for money to pay rent suspected of lying and being told to leave.

Social Influence and Behavior

• Line-Cutting Experiment:
  • People are more likely to allow someone to cut in line if given a reason, even if the reason is weak.

Subjectivity in Perception

• Behavior is subjective:
  • Personal experiences shape our perceptions.
  • Example Story: A man assessing whether to help a woman asking for money.
  • Experience, education, and background shape our trust and distrust.
• Crime Witnessing: Description and verbal recollection can distort memories due to verbal overshadowing.

Psychology as a Science

• Definition: Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.
• Scientific Method: Essential for studying behavior and mental processes accurately.
• Empirical Investigation: Observation and documentation to understand behavior.

Multi-Determined Behavior

• Examples and Explanation:
  • Behavior often has multiple causes (e.g., dropping out of college or reactions to strangers).
• Example of Complex Behavior: Why did someone drop out? Many possible factors (financial, social, academic).
• Confession Example: John Mark Karr's false confession in the JonBenet Ramsey case explored for multiple possible reasons.

Diverse Perspectives in Psychology

• Different Theoretical Perspectives:
  • Neuroscience, evolutionary, behavioral genetics, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, sociocultural perspectives.
• APA Divisions: Representation of the wide range of specialties within psychology.
  • Examples: Psychology in the Arts, Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Applied Experimental, and Engineering Psychology, Exercise and Sport Psychology, Media Psychology.

Subjectivity and Personal Background

• Individual Differences:
  • Personal and cultural backgrounds influence perceptions and behaviors.
  • Example Story: Elise and the speaker noticing or not noticing things at a fast food restaurant.
• Behavioral Observation: Professional backgrounds influence observation skills.

Assumptions in Psychology

• Science and Christianity:
  • Differences in assumptions between naturalistic worldview (e.g., reductionism, evolution) and Christian worldview (e.g., creator God, immaterial essence of humans).
• Biblical Presuppositions:
  • A Creator God.
  • Immaterial essence of human nature.
  • Sinful fall and sanctification.

Next Lecture: Science of Psychology

• History of psychology and methods will be covered in the next lecture.

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