PSYC1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Libido, Classical Conditioning, Social Cognition
Document Summary
Psychology today: the scientific study of behaviour and mind. Internal states and processes: biological and cognitive. Systematically gathering and evaluating empirical evidence: answers questions and tests beliefs about the natural world. Pitfalls of everyday approaches: mental shortcuts when forming judgement. Failure to consider alternative explanations: assume that one factor has influences behaviour when in fact some less obvious issue was the major cause, confirmation bias. Selectively paying attention to information that is consistent with our beliefs and downplaying/ignoring information that is inconsistent with our beliefs. The meaning of information: how information fits in with your life experiences, the implications of the information for life and society, evaluating the validity of information presented as a fact. Involves taking an active role in understanding the world around rather than just receiving information. Description: of how people behave, think and feel. Explanation: hypotheses and theories that specify the causes of behaviour.
