01:830:101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Scientific Method, Palmistry, Psychopathology

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: 01:830:101
• Professor: Sarah Carton

Document Summary

What is psychology? the science of behavior and mental processes. Psychology comes from psyche which means mind in greek. Based on objective, verifiable, scientific evidence is science driven literally means study of the mind covers both internal and external processes and observable behaviors. What is it not? is not just clinical and psychopathology and therapy or just about mental disorders focused solely or diagnosing and treating mental illness. Pseudo-psychology- erroneous assertions or practices set forth as being scientific psychology. Use the scientific method to test their questions and ideas empirically: steps of scientific method, ask a question (first) A four-step process for empirical investigation of a hypothesis under conditions designed to control biases and subjective judgements. It cannot answer ethics, mortality, personal preferences, aesthetics, existential issues, or religion, or law. Cause and effect relations, does not study abstract ideas. That if a change in x it would lead to a change in outcome in y .