YEAR 11 PSYCHOLOGY –

UNIT 1 AREA OF STUDY 1

REFRESHER!

Psychology: The scientific

study of human

behaviour and mental

processes

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

- Clinical Psychology- Clinical Neuro-Psychology- Community Psychology - Counselling Psychology- Educational and

Developmental Psychology- Forensic Psychology- Health Psychology- Organisational Psychology- Sport Psychology

- Biological Psychology- Cognitive Psychology- Personality Psychology- Social Psychology

PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS OF PSYCHOLOGY

1St Philosophers: Plato, Aristotle and Socrates.

Greek philosophers proposed the mind-body problem (E.g. Do they have a relationship with one another? How do they interact? Is the mind apart of the body or body apart of the mind? Etc)

Rene Descartes introduced Dualism where he concluded the mind and body both can control and interact with one another. Before this, philosophers thought they could not control one another.

Psychologists today focus more on the mind-brain problem. As we know the brain controls the body, therefore: does our

brain interact with our mind? Neuropsychologists are still studying these answers

CLASSICAL PERSPECTIVES AND THEORIES IN PSYCHOLOGY

Classical Perspective

Explanation

Structuralism Wundt: Focused on the ‘structure’ of consciousness (1st Psych Lab – 1879)

Functionalism- Focused on the ‘functions’ of mental processes in different environments.

Psychoanalysis Freud: Focus on the unconscious thoughts, feelings and inner needs.

Behaviourism Watson: Focus on observable behaviours. (i.e. Changing environment can alter behaviour)

Humanism Rogers: Focus on the uniqueness and goodness of each individual

CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES AND THEORIES IN PSYCHOLOGYPerspective Explanation

Biological Focus on physiological factors

Behavioural Focus on observable behaviour in different environments

Cognitive Focus on how we acquire and process information (i.e Memory)

Socio-Cultural Focus how culture and social factors influence behaviour

PSYCHOLOGY VERSUS PSYCHIATRY

Psychology PsychiatryIs not able to prescribe medication

Is able to prescribe medication

6 years of university Up to 13 years of study and work experience

Can work in private practices, schools, research labs, government bodies, hospitals, businesses etc

Usually work in a hospital setting

PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE Collects empirical evidence

Conducts experimental research follows steps of scientific research.

Is NOT a pseudoscience such as telepathy or astrology.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONSEthical consideration

Description

Withdrawal Rights Participants may leave the study at any time they wish

Informed consent The researcher must explain the nature and purpose of the study and obtain a written agreement of participation

Confidentiality The researcher must allow the participants to participate anonymously, keeping all personal information and record private

Voluntary Participation

The researcher must allow the participant to take part in the experiment at their own free will

Deception If the true nature of an experiment is not revealed to prevent participant expectancy effects there must be debriefing

Debriefing A post-experimental session explaining the true nature of the study ensuring no lasting harm.

VISUAL PERCEPTION

Process Description

Reception Reception or capture of visual stimuli in the retinas of the eye by sensory neurons called photoreceptors.

Transduction Transduction or conversion of electromagnetic energy (light energy) into electrochemical energy (or neural impulses) by photoreceptors

Transmission Transmission of neural impulses, via one neuron to another, through the optic nerve to the brain.

Organisation Organisation of the stimulus features into patterns or groupings to closely represent the original stimulus in a meaningful way.

Interpretation Interpretation or understanding of what the stimulus represents in the external world.

VISUAL PERCEPTION PROCESS

Visual Sensation Visual Perception-Visual sensation is the same for everyone- It is our physiological make up of the eye and the way it functions-Reception-Transduction-Transmission

-Visual perception differs as everyone perceives and interprets things differently-When studying Visual Perception it is difficult to say where one starts and the other begins so we see it as an interrelated process.-Organisation-Interpretation

Gestalt PrinciplesFigure-GroundClosureSimilarityProximity

ConstanciesSize ConstancyShape ConstancyBrightness Constancy

Monocular Depth Cues Binocular Depth CuesAccommodation (A) Retinal Disparity (R)PICTORIAL CUES: Convergence (C)Texture Gradient (T)

Height in the visual field (H)

Relative Size (R)Interposition (I)Linear Perspective (L)

CAR THRIL

Closure

Proximity

Similarity

Figure-Ground

Closure

Closure

Figure-Ground

Retinal Disparity

Accommodation

Convergence

Linear Perspective

Relative SizeHeight in the Visual Field

Interposition

Texture Gradient

Brightness Constancy

Shape ConstancySize

Constancy

PERCEPTUAL SET (EXPECTANCY):

Context Past Experience-Context refers to the setting in which a perceived stimulus occurs.

- In other words, context refers to the physical or circumstantial surrounds in which the observed event or object sits.

-Past experience can affect visual perception, especially if the experience holds significant personal meaning.

-The subjectivity of the experiences may cause particular stimuli to be interpreted differently by different people.

Perceptual set is a predisposition or expectancy to perceive stimuli in a specific way.

Many people perceive the black diamonds in this picture as forming a cube. The Gestalt principle that is most important to achieve this perception is:

a) Linear perspectiveb) Proximityc) Simplicityd) Reversibility figure 

The slanting lines are used as a depth cue. The slanting lines are an example of:

a) Interpositionsb) Height in the visual fieldc) Relative sized) Linear perspective

Benita plans to carry out research into different eye problems and their effects on depth perception. Benita must

A. match the names of her participants with their results in her report.B. inform participants of their obligation to disclose all relevant information.C. inform participants that they are not allowed to withdraw from the

research.D. ensure that her participant’s personal details are not exposed.

Philip is conducting research on children who have a particular eye disorder. His theory is that children with this eye disorder are unable to perceive the Müller-Lyer illusion. He conducts a study with two groups: one group of children with the eye disorder and a second group of children without the eye disorder. The two groups are matched on age, sex and intelligence. In this research design, the group of children with the eye disorder is the ___________ group and the group of children without the eye disorder is the __________ group.

A. experimental; controlB. control; experimentalC. random; stratifiedD. stratified; random

Which of the following original classical perspectives of psychology is still included as a contemporary perspective to psychology?

a) Socio-culturalb) Biologicalc) Behaviourismd) Humanism

Dualism, suggested by Descarte proposes:a) The mind and body are separate entitiesb) The mind and body are friendsc)The mind and body cannot control and interact

with one anotherd)The mind and body can control and interact

with one another

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS1/ James sustains an injury to his left eye, and has to wear

an eye patch for several weeks.

a. Name a depth perception cue that James would be unable to use.

b. b. Name a non-pictorial depth cue that James would be able to use and explain how this cue would assist him to perceive depth.

2/ Describe one of the 4 contemporary theories to Psychology and how they contribute to mental processes

3/ Provide details of 3 of the 6 ethical considerations researchers must abide by when conducting research.

EXAM DETAILS 50 multiple choice questions 18 short answer questions totalling to 50

marks 100 marks in total. Good Luck!