Transcript Themes in Psychology

Themes in Psychology
Major Themes in Psychology
The Science of
Psychology
Theme #1
The scientific method & Experimentation
Scientific Attitude
• Ask Questions
• Evaluate Evidence
• Question Conclusions
Scientific Method
1. Research
2. Hypothesis
1.Supported by logical argument
3. Test – Experiment
4. Conclude
5. Reflect
Experiment Example
• experiment video
• monkey business
experiment
•Controlled environment with only 1 variable changing
1. Changed variable is the independent variable
2. Measured variable is the dependent variable
a) Ex. Color of the room affects test scores
3. Keep all other important factors the same
4. Experimental condition vs. Control condition
• Random assignment = same “average” person in both conditions
**If set-up well, proves one variable CAUSES a change in another
variable
5. Can predict what will happen in specific situations
• If proven enough times = theory
Experiment Example
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Hypothesis: Sky blue room will improve test scores in Psychology
• Supported by sky blue = calm and calm = best test scores
• Previous research
• Independent Variable: color of the room & Dependent Variable: tests
scores
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Design
• Random Sample & Random Assignment
• Experimental group: blue
• Control group: off-white
• Extra variables
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Results
• Average score of each room
• Significance?
Ethics in Psychology
Theme #2
Doing Psychology the RIGHT way!
Theme #2: Ethics
• Ethics in Psychology: a code of moral principles
that govern how the people and animals are treated
in the pursuit of knowledge in psychology
• Ethics in Human Research
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Informed consent
Protection from harm or discomfort
Confidentiality
Debriefing
Theme #2: Ethics
• Ethics in Animal Research
• Why do animal research to study psychology?
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Similarities between animals & humans
Species develop faster – can study genetic effects easier
Can use more control with animals
Unethical procedures on humans may not be viewed the
same with animals
• Federal law mandates:
• Clean housing, proper ventilation, & appropriate food
& care for animals used in research
Theme #2: Ethics
• There have been many psychology studies that
challenged ethical lines:
• Milgram’s obedience study (electric shock)
• The Monster Study was a stuttering experiment on 22
orphan children in Davenport, Iowa, in 1939 conducted
by Wendell Johnson at the University of Iowa.
• Stanford Prison Experiment – 1971
• Little Albert - 1920
Nature vs. Nurture
Argument
Theme #3
Nature vs. Nurture Argument
• Nature = genetics/heredity, Nurture = environment
• What are behaviors or parts of who we are that are
influenced by genetics?
• What are behaviors or parts of who we are that are
influenced by our environment?
• Who is somebody who has had a BIG impact on
your life and why? Support your answer with
specifics.
Nature Forces
• Heredity – traits/characteristics passed from parent to offspring
• genes – basic unit of heredity (made up of DNA)
• chromosomes – contain full set of genes (23 pair = 46
chromosomes)
• zygote – reproductive cell
• contains 1 gene from every pair
• male sperm (23 chromosomes) + female egg (23 chromosomes) =
fertilized egg (46 chromosomes)
• offspring is a combination of traits from mother and father
• Charles Darwin – natural selection
• survival of the fittest – those with the best genetic make-up will be the
most likely to survive
• species seek out the most desirable traits to ensure that the species
continues to exist
Nature Forces
• Science
• genetic engineering
• taking control of natural selection
• being able to choose characteristics of offspring
• test tube babies
• stem cell research
• using genetic material from fetuses/newborns to create new organic
material
• grow new organs or limbs
• repair damage to the body (paralysis)
• cloning – creating an exact replica
• genetic testing – being able to identify genetic problems (diseases,
defects, etc.)
• can detect several defects and diseases in the womb
Nature Free Write Topics
• Would you want to know if your
child has a genetic disorder/defect
(dwarfism, deafness, blindness,
down’s syndrome) and why?
• How would that knowledge affect
your attitude about the birth of
your child?
Nurture Forces
• Environment
• family
• peers
• media (including social media)
• community
• religion
Nurture Forces
• Parenting Style
• permissive – little or no control
• child left to regulate him/herself
• authoritarian – rigid & inflexible control
• parent(s) make nearly all decision
• authoritative – parent in-charge, but flexible
• dialogue between child and parent about rules and
consequences
Nurture Free Write Topics
• Rank the environmental forces from
most influential to the least influential.
• Identify your parents’ parenting style.
• Has it changed as you’ve gotten older?
• What type of parenting style would you
use and why?
Assignments
• Use periodicals (magazines, newspapers, etc.) or
internet resources to make a collage that represents
the major influences that MEDIA has had on
today’s youth (you!). The assignment can be done in
any format you want (ex. Paper, Prezi, Word,
iMovie, etc.) but it must be SCHOOL
APPROPRIATE! Have fun with the assignment and
it is due on Monday.
• Create a vocabulary page (to be continued
throughout unit)