Introduction Of Psychology

• Reading opens the door to education and advancement.
• Kids' teachers set monthly reading goals - in terms of books or pages read and give them Pizza Award Certificates when they reach the goals.
• The kid who brings a certificate to a local participating restaurant gets a free pizza.
• Parents and teachers say the program works- it gets their kids to read more.
• Through this program, for nearly twenty years kids have been earning pizzas for reading across the United States.
• One American chain of pizza restaurants believes it has the answer: Reward kids for reading.
• The law of effect states that when a reward follows a behavior, that behavior is strengthened.
• The overjustification effect is the undermining influence of rewards, where kids discount any internal, personal factors like their own enjoyment of the activity and see their behavior as caused by the external, situational factor like a free pizza.
• Performance contingent rewards are less likely to undermine interest and at times can even increase interest - because they tell you that you are good at an activity.
• Psychology is fascinating because it asks questions that touch virtually every aspect of our lives.
• Psychological theories and research have influenced laws dealing with discrimination, capital punishment, courtroom practices, pornography, sexual behavior, and personal responsibility for actions.
• So-called lie-detector tests are not admissible evidence in U.S courts because psychological research has shown them to be unacceptably inaccurate.
• Psychologists use the scientific method to test hypotheses.
• Scientific psychology is based on empirical evidence rather than personal beliefs or opinions.
• The scientific method involves making observations, forming hypotheses, testing them through experiments or other methods, analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and communicating results.
• Scientific methods include observation, experimentation, measurement, hypothesis testing, and theory building.
• Observations involve recording what happens without trying to change or manipulate events.
• Experimentation involves changing one variable while holding others constant to determine cause and effect relationships.
• Theories are explanations about how things work.
• Behavioral psychologists focus on observable behaviors and avoid speculation about internal mental processes.
• Research methods include experiments, correlational studies, case studies, surveys, and naturalistic observations.
• Rationalism emphasizes reason and logic over sensory experiences.
• Hypothesis testing involves making predictions from a theory and then collecting data to see if those predictions come true.
• Empiricism emphasizes the importance of experience as the basis for knowledge.
• Cognitive psychology focuses on the mind's information processing system and its role in behavior.
• Measurement refers to quantifying psychological constructs by assigning numerical values to observable characteristics.
• Hypothesis testing involves formulating predictions about how variables are related and then testing those predictions with statistical analysis.
• Hypothesis testing involves predicting the outcome of an event based on existing knowledge and then testing it with new information.
• Hypothesis testing involves formulating predictions about how variables will affect behavior and then testing those predictions with experiments.
• Experimentation involves manipulating variables to determine their effects on dependent variables while controlling extraneous variables.
• Measurement involves quantifying variables using scales such as nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.
• Measurement involves quantifying variables using scales such as nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.
• Psychology affects many aspects of our lives, even for those who do not intend to specialize in it.
• An introductory course in psychology provides a better understanding of why people think, feel, and act as they do, as well as insights into one's own attitudes and reactions.
• The course also helps evaluate the many claims made in the name of psychology.
• Newspaper headlines like "New Form of Psychotherapy Facilitates Recovery of Repressed Memories" and "Anxiety Controlled by Self-Regulation of Brain Waves" are examples of claims made in the name of psychology.
• Proof of Mental Telepathy Found Babies Learn Speech Sounds While Snoozing is another claim made in the name of psychology.
• Emotional Stability Closely Related to Family Size is a claim made in the name of psychology.
• Sweet Drink May Boost Exam Performance is a claim made in the name of psychology.
• Transcendental Meditation Extends Life Expectancy is a claim made in the name of psychology.