Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Tabula Rasa, Empiricism, Philosophy Of Science

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Laura Fazakas- De Hoog

Document Summary

Nature of psychology: psychology: scientific study of behaviour & mind. > systematic: performed according to system/rules of condition: misconceptions: media/internet, other people, books. > mental shortcuts (ex. judging personality based on appearance) > confirmation bias: paying attention to info. that is consistent w/ beliefs & downplaying information that is consistent w/ them. 2: minimize pitfalls: experiments, publishing work, examine testable questions, modify existing scientific beliefs (scientific progress, critical thinking: active role in understanding, rather then merely receiving information, evaluate validity of something. > uncritical: accept misconceptions, can lead to misguided views. > eating: biological- hunger, psychological: food preference, environmental: appearance/aroma: mind-body interaction: b/w mental/brain processes & bodily functions. 3: structuralism: analysis of mind in terms of basic elements. > introspection: exposed participants to stimuli (ex. lights, sounds), trained them to describe inner experiences; too subjective: functionalism: study functions of consciousness, rather than structure; stressed adaptation (darwin"s theory of evolution)