EXAM REVISION Theories and Issues The nature of psychology Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and the mind The approach to psychology is systematic and therefore more accurate than everyday casual observations The main goals of psychological science are: description, explanation, control and application Research can be basic (quest for knowledge for its own sake) or applied (solving practical problems) Psychologists study biological, psychological and environmental factors Mind body and Nature Nurture Interactions Mind body Interactions o The relations between mental process in the brain and the functioning of other bodily systems Nature/Nurture? Psychology s intellectual routes Mind-- body problem: o Mind-- body dualism: mind is a spiritual entity mind is not subject to physical laws Monism: o mind and body are the same o mind is not spiritually separate from the body Perspectives on behaviour Psychology emerged in 1879 Wilhelm Wundt first psychology lab. Two early schools of thought: o Structuralism basic components of consciousness o Functionalism purposes of consciousness 1
Research methods Methods of Research Descriptive Research Naturalistic Observation Surveys Correlational Research Experimental Research 2
Threats to validity Internal validity Confounding variables Placebo effect Experimenter expectancy effect External Validity Replication Analysing and Interpreting Data Descriptive Statistics Measures of variability Inferential statistics Meta-analysis 3
Learning Learning Simple Learning Associative Learning o Classical and Operant Conditioning Observational/Social Learning Processes in Classical Conditioning Reinforcement Acquisition Extinction Spontaneous Recovery Generalisation Discrimination Higher-- order conditioning Operant Conditioning Reinforcement o Positive & Negative Punishment o Positive & Negative Shaping Operant generalisation Schedules of reinforcement Continuous reinforced after every response Interval dependent on time Ratio dependent on behaviour Fixed rewarded for a set amount of time of behaviours Variable rewarded after varying time or varied number of behaviours Observational Learning Social Learning Theory: Albert Bandura o Attention o Retention o Motor reproduction o Motivation Bobo Doll experiment Text Book Read chapter 7 Further information on concepts covered within the lecture The Adaptive Brain 4
Emotion Theories of Emotion James-- Lange Somatic theory (Somatic theory of emotion) Cannon-- Bard Theory Schechter-- Singer Theory (Two-- factor theory of emotion) Cognitive Appraisal Theory Emotion 6 basic (universal) emotions (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise) There are cultural and gender differences in emotion Happiness and Anger Emotional Intelligence Ability to read other s emotions accurately, to respond to them appropriately, to motivate oneself, to be aware of one s emotions and to regulate and control one s own emotional responses Mayer-- Salovey-- Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test High emotional intelligence is associated with positive outcomes Read chapter 11 Primary, cognitive and behavioural components of emotion physical responses Negative Emotions Optimal levels of arousal Happiness Further information on theories of emotion Motivation Perspectives on Motivation Instincts and Evolutionary perspective Drive-- reduction Theory Optimum Arousal Approach and Avoidance motivation Incentives and Expectancies Hierarchy of Motives Self-- determination theory Achievement Motivation Achievement Goal Theory Motivational conflict Approach-- approach conflict Avoidance-- avoidance conflict Approach-- avoidance conflict Read chapter 11 The psychology of Hunger and Sex Further information on motivational theorie 5
States of consciousness Cognitive Neuroscience Viewpoint Directed controlled (conscious processing) Automatic (unconscious processing) Dual processing theory Consciousness as Mind Consciousness as Mind o Descartes o Cartesian View o Pineal Gland o Freudian view point Theories of Consciousness Computational Complexity/Connectivity Oscillations Quantum Emergent Consciousness Attention Schema Theory Infinite Regress Consciousness as the waking state Consciousness as a physiological state Consciousness without response Sleep as an altered state of consciousness Sleep and Dreaming Behavioural and Neurophysiological definition Circadian Rhythms Sleep/wake cycle Body temperature Hormone and Enzyme Production Alertness/Performance Neurophysiological Definition of Sleep Electroencephalography (EEG) Polysomnography Sleep and Aging Changes in sleep as we age Importance of Sleep Not entirely understood Sleep deprivation studies Improving sleep quality and quantity Dreams When we dream What we dream Why we dream Theories on dreaming Hypnosis Hypnotisability Posthypnotic suggestions Posthypnotic Amnesia 6
Theories Read Chapter 6 Sleep disorders Drug induced states Research ethics Research Ethics No specific questions on Gregory Donovan s talk, however, some of these concepts are from Your text and were covered in the second part of the lecture and your text. No questions on Ethical Experiments disused in the lecture or Bizarre Experiments discussed in the practicals. National Health and Medical Research Council Guidelines Informed consent History of Ethics in Australia The brain and the nervous system Brain and Behaviour The mind body problem Comparison of mammalian brains Structures of the brain Neurons & Glia Neuron structure History Read chapter 4 Further information on neurons, the nervous system, the brain and it s structures and hemispheric lateralisation Neurotransmitters Plasticity in the brain Interactions with the endocrine system Sensation and Perception The brain mechanisms underlying sensation and perception fmri Common principles Visual system Perception Text Book Read Chapter 5 Further information on other sensory systems: Audition Taste and Smell The Skin and Body Senses Further information on perception and critical periods and perceptual development 7