Module One: Introduction to Psychology as a Science

Learning Objectives

• Understand the scientific approach to psychology.
• Recognize the broad scope of psychology as a discipline.

Psychology as a Science

• Scientific Approach
  • Psychology is approached scientifically in this class.
  • Hypotheses and theories are tested against data.
  • Consistency with data is essential.
• Predictability of People
  • People are predictable to some extent, contrary to common belief.
  • Predictability allows for scientific study in psychology.
  • Example: Traffic behavior and word association (countries starting with "D").
• Critical Evaluation and Amiable Skepticism
  • Importance of evaluating psychological claims with evidence.
  • Be open to new ideas but weigh evidence carefully.
  • Change beliefs if evidence contradicts them.

Psychology's Broad Scope

• Definition
  • Psychology is the science of mind and behavior.
• Beyond Mental Health
  • Clinical psychology is just one area.
  • Psychology's relevance extends to all human activities.
• Surprising Areas of Psychology
  • Mind-Body Problem and Psychophysics
    • Study of mathematical relationships between physical measurements and responses.
    • Gustav Fechner's contribution with psychophysical laws.
  • Improving Computer Games
    • Experimental psychologists help enhance gameplay.
    • Work with companies like Valve Software.
  • Improving Educational Outcomes
    • Cognitive psychology's role in studying memory techniques.
  • Impact on Marketing
    • Social psychology studies attitude change and persuasion.
  • Economics and Decision Making
    • Research on decision making affecting economic understanding.
    • Daniel Kahneman's Nobel Prize for work in economic decision making.
  • Artificial Intelligence
    • Inspiration from neuropsychology in creating artificial neural networks.
    • Contributions to computer science and AI development.

Course Overview

• The course will provide a broad overview of psychology.
• Acts as a menu to explore different areas in psychology.
• Limited time to delve deeply into all areas due to the field's vastness.

Conclusion

• Psychology is both a science and a broad field.
• Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping future course topics.