Psychology: The Study of Mind and Behavior

Psychology: The Study of Mind and Behavior

1. Research Methods

   • Need for Empiricism
     • Need for Empiricism
     • Hindsight Bias: Tendency to believe that one would have predicted an outcome after learning the outcome
     • Overconfidence
   • Perception in Random Order Events
     • Observation Methods
       • Experimentation
       • Theory:An explanation that predicts future events based off of recorded observation
       • Hypothesis: Testable prediction
       • Operational Definition: Exact procedures used, make experiments recreatable
       • Control Group
     • Variables: Independent, Dependent, Confounding
       • Case Studies
     • one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principle
       • Naturalistic Observation
   • Observing behaviors in a natural environment without controlling it
     • Effectiveness
     • random and representative sample
       • Correlation
     • not prove causation but can suggest posibility
     • Validity

2. Social Psychology

   • Statistical Significance: <.05
     • Attribution theory
       • Fundamental
     • We overestimate a person’s personality and underestimate their situation
       • Self Serving Bias
   • Overestimate our own situation rather than judging our personality
     • Persuasion
     • Peripheral: no logic or reason, flashy
     • Central: logical argument
     • Foot in the Door Phenomenon
   • Door in the Face Phenomenon
     • Attitudes affect actions
     • Role: series of norms w social position
     • Cognitive Dissonance
       • Conformity
     • Asch's Line Test
     • Compliance
       • Obedience
     • Milgram's shock test
   • Empathy, mood linkage
     • Normative: desire to gain approval
     • Normative: desire to gain approval
   • Informative: accept other opinions
     • Group Influences
     • Social Facilitation (home field advantage)
     • Deindividualism
     • Deindividualism
     • Groupthink: change beliefs for harmony
   • Group Polarization: push to extremes
     • Prejudice
     • Ingroup vs. Outgroup
     • Scapegoat Theory
     • Just World Phenomenon
     • Vivid Case

3. Abnormal Psychology and Treatment

4. Learning

5. Memory