PSYC*1000 Introduction to Psychology Notes - Midterm 1: Key Concepts and Scientific Foundations complete ne update University of Guelph
1.1 The Science of Psychology Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behaviours, thought, and experience, and how they can be affected by physical, mental, social, and environmental factors. Within psychology there’s many overarching goals: • • • • • •
Understanding how different brain structures work together to produce our behaviour. Understanding how nature (genetics) and nurture (our upbringing and environment) interact to make us who we are Understanding how previous experiences influence how we think and act Understanding how groups—family, culture, and crowds—affect the individual Understanding how feelings of control can influence happiness and health Understanding how each of these factors can influence our well-being and could contribute to psychological disorders.
The Scientific Method A scientist is defined as a person who carefully follows a system of observing, predicting, and testing is conducting science, whether the subject matter is chemicals, physiology, human memory, or social interactions. The scientific method is a way of learning about the world through collecting observations, developing theories