What is Psychology?

Science, Pseudoscience

or just common sense?

Learning Objectives:

1. You will understand what “Psychology” actually is!

2. You will understand what the AS course involves.

3. You should be able to distinguish between the terms ‘theory, ‘study’ and ‘research method’.

By the end of the lesson:

True or False?Are these statements true, false, or

don’t we know?

Most people use only 10% of their brains.

The different sides of the brain have different functions and do

different things.

Brain activity almost stops during sleep.

Gamblers think differently than non-gamblers.

Children all develop their cognitive abilities at the same time in their

lives.

Human memory works like a tape recorder or video camera.

Punishment is typically an effective means of changing long-term

behaviour.

Researchers have demonstrated that dreams possess an underlying

symbolic meaning.

The polygraph (“lie detector”) test is a highly accurate means of

detecting dishonesty.

Happy people experience more positive events in their lives than

do unhappy people.

Children learn to be aggressive simply by watching others be

aggressive around them.

When we were younger we all had sexual fantasies about our parents.

People with schizophrenia possess more than one personality.

The characteristic feature of Tourette’s Syndrome is swearing

and cursing.

Eyewitness testimony is usually reliable.

Students have a good sense of how well they know class material.

Psychology is a science.A person’s intelligence is partially

determined by brain size.

Most of us would not follow instructions from an authority figure

to hurt another person.

Parts of the brain can grow if they are used more.

The power of the situation is far higher than any personal wants or

desires.

Most people would walk on by if they saw someone in need.

We all interpret the world the same way. A smile is a smile. A laugh is a

laugh.

Humans are the only things on this planet that can learn and use a

language.

Psychiatrists can reliably diagnose those who have a mental disorder.

It is possible for a person to have more than one personality.

Psychology is all about reading peoples minds and analyzing their

behaviour.