• The scientific study of the mind and behavior • Psyci-mind • Logos-study • Mind and the body • Influences behavior: genetics

social influence

we share a common origin in that we are all human beings • Psychologists generally belong to one of two broad categories: Clinical/counseling psychology and Experimental/research psychology PhD vs PsyD Philosophy (research-based) versus Psychology (clinical-based) 1/20 • We cannot rely solely on common sense and intuition • Hindsight bias- I knew it all along • We often mistake familiarity for knowledge • Knowing the answer tends to make us overconfident • We often mistake confidence for accuracy • Curiosity underlines all science

but the important thing is to let facts speak for themselves • Testing the truth of ideas • Critical thinking is key to becoming a successful scientist • Hypothesis leads to deductive reasoning

it is NOT a hunch • Theories are developed by observing a series of behaviors and then forming a hypothesis. If our hypothesis holds after being tested

we have support for our theory • Replication is critical! If the data we collect does not fit with our hypothesis

it describes it. S: Accurate information

no bias

Non-invasive and time sensitive. Weaknesses

insensitive location • Position emission tomography (PET): Inject (harmless) radioactive glucose into patients. See which parts of the brain use the glucose. Strengths: Location sensitive. Weaknesses: Difficult and expensive to prepare the radiated glucose

the radiated glucose degrades quickly

it is the small differences that create diversity • How can we control for nature or nurture if we want to study the effects of each of them individually? • Thankfully

we have a special populations that can help us with this

occurs within a 24-hour day: Lifestyle can alter this • Age and experience can alter circadian rhythms Stages of sleep • Two main types of sleep • Rem Sleep: Active sleep • NREM sleep: Quiet sleep • • NREM1 – lightest sleep

easy to wake

drifting sensations • • NREM2 – still relatively light

sleep spindles

not the deepest • • NREM3 – deepest non REM sleep

very difficult to wake someone

body is at its most restorative • • REM – brain is active

dreaming occurs