Unit 1 Psychology
Ms Hughes
Textbook 2016
Student Activity Manual 2016
Important websites
Wikispace: mshughespsychology.wikispaces.com
VCAA: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au
Both websites are found on the course outline.
Course Outline
• Unit 1 Psychology is divided into three Outcomes:
• Outcome 1: How does the brain function?
• Outcome 2: What influences psychological
development?
• Outcome 3: Student-directed research
investigation
Outcomes
• Each outcome has one or two major
assessment tasks (SACs).
• For each of these tasks the minimum pass is
40%.
• If you do not meet the 40% requirement you
will sit a redemption to get a pass.
Outcome 1: How does the brain function?
• SAC 1: Test (on chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4)
• SAC 2: Research Analysis (research methods
questions about a case study/experiment)
Outcome 2: What influences psychological
development?
• SAC 1: Test (on chapters 5 and 6)
• SAC 2: Media Response (movie)
ERA
• Empirical Research Activity
• An ERA is a written report that describes an
experiment.
• It includes:
- An Introduction (with a hypothesis)
- Method
- Results
- Discussion
Tests
• Each test will be divided into two sections:
Section A: Multiple choice questions
Section B: Short answer questions
Exam
• At the end of the semester there will be an
exam.
• Like the Outcome tests, the exam will be
divided into two sections:
- Multiple choice
- Short answer
What is Psychology?
• Psychology: the systematic study of behaviour
and mental processes, including cognition,
emotion and perception.
• Behaviour: any observable action an organism
makes.
• Cognition: thinking.
• Perception: giving meaning and
understanding the world.
Outcome 1: How does the brain
function?
The Brain
- Weighs approximately 1.5kg
- It has a wrinkled, convoluted appearance to
increase the surface area
- Unfolded the brain would cover two A3 sheets
- The outer layer of the brain is made up of ‘grey
matter’ (neuron cell bodies)
- The inner brain is made up of ‘white matter’
(nerve fibres insulated by the white, fatty
substance myelin)
The brain versus heart debate
Which is more important?
Ancient Egypt
The heart:
- Believed to contain the mind and soul and was
the source of wisdom, emotion, memory,
personality and the life forces.
Canopic Jars
Canopic Jars
Held the four organs important for the Afterlife:
- Liver
- Lungs
- Stomach
- Intestines
The heart remained within the body and the brain
was discarded as it was considered useless.
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greek philosophers and physicians took
opposing sides of this debate.
• Alcmaeon and Galen believed in the ‘Brain
hypothesis.’
• Empedocles and Aristotle believed in the
‘Heart hypothesis.’
Alcmaeon of Croton
• Dissected dead animals and proposed that the
brain was the centre of mental processes.
Empedocles
• Believed the heart was the centre of the body
and that the blood contained our soul and
thoughts.
Brain versus Heart?
Whilst it is now agreed that the BRAIN is the
source of all mental processes and behaviour,
the heart cannot be forgotten, as changes to the
function of the heart can affect thoughts,
feelings and behaviour.
Mind-Brain Problem
Are our mind and body two separate entities, or
are they parts of the one whole?
René Descartes
“I think, therefore I am.”
- The physical body (matter) and the mind
(soul) interact and influence one another.
“Mind over matter.”
Pineal Gland
The mind and body interact through the Pineal
Gland located at the centre of the brain.
Pineal Gland
Is actually part of the Endocrine System and is
responsible for releasing the hormone
Melatonin, important in Sleep.
The mind-body problem remains
Whilst it is well established that mental
processes occur in the brain (a physical
structure), does it follow that the ‘mind’ is
simply part of the activity of the brain?
Or is the mind separate from the brain?