Topic/Objective: Introduction to Psychology: Session 1.
Starter Activity: Name Game
Define what is meant by psychology.
Identify course content and expectations.
Outline different psychological perspectives
Apply to a case study
Compare and contrast psychological with other types of
explanation.
Evaluate the usefulness of psychology to you.
Psychology
Perspective
Common-sense
Empiricism
Starter 1: Name
What is your name?
Why were you called it?
What does it mean?
Do you like it?
What is psychology?
• Can Psychologists read
your mind?
• Let’s have a go …
You can see 6 cards.
Think of one of them.
Just think.
Think now.
Look into my eyes.
Just think about
your card.
I do not
know you.
I can not see you..
But I know what you think.
Look,
I took
your card !!!
I knew the
choice you
would be
making!
• So psychologists can read
minds!
• Or can they?
The human brain …
… tricks us whenever it can!
The phenomenal power of the human mind
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was
rdanieg
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid! Aoccdrnig to a
rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht
oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht
the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a
taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is
bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but
the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas thought
slpeling was ipmorantt.
Optical Illusions and Visual Phenomena
Want to confuse your eyes and brain a bit?
Yes? Then you might want to have a look at the following pics ..
It ...
Which center circle is
larger?
Here are the same
circles again.
Do you see the flashing dots?
The flashing is all in your head.
What is psychology?
T
The scientific study of the human mind
and behaviour
Research seeks to understand and explain
thought, emotion and behaviour.
Evolved from philosophy and biology
‘Psyche’
(greek means soul or mind)
Have you ever wondered
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Why people behave like they do?
Why you remember some things but not others?
Why you are scared of spiders?
Are we products of nature or nurture?
Why do you feel so angry-anxious-depressed?
How do people become intelligent?
Why do we conform?
What is normal behaviour? Am I normal?
Why do some people commit crime?
How can psychology help people?
How is psychology different from ‘common-sense’
Common-sense
Vague
Everyday explanations
Best guess
Scientific psychology
Objective
Evidence-based
Theories
How do psychologists develop theories?
Empirical Evidence:
Primary Research
Experiments
Self-Report
Observations
Correlational studies
Compare different approaches
Consider how the following ‘ologies’ may help
explain:
Depression
Teenage Pregnancy
Alcoholism
Common-sense
Biology
Sociology
Psychology
Psychological Perspectives
Behavioural
Psychodynamic
Biological
Social Psychology
Humanistic
Cognitive
In groups, read
Jake’s case study
and come up with
explanations for his
aggression
Psychology Timeline
http://www.learner.org/discoveringpsychology/history/history_flash.html
Course Overview
AS Overview
A2 Overview
How do you learn?
In pairs – Devise a list of 5 ways you like to learn
and 5 ways you do not.
Questions:
•Was it easy to agree?
•Is there a class consensus?
Mr Hickman’s House-keeping
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Bring your Note book, Textbook each week.
Bring a pen, highlighter and ruler.
Complete homework on time!
Glossary – define key words.
Buy a textbook ASAP.
Attend each lesson – on time!
Take part in each lesson.
Ask for help.
How will I learn?
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Weekly homework.
Independent Learning (5 hours per week).
Group tasks.
Pair and individual tasks.
How will I be assessed?
Weekly homework.
Independent Learning Tasks.
Oral contribution.
Short answers.
Essay-style answers.
Note-taking
• The notes are for your benefit – but I would
like to check your notebook once a week.
• Use Headings and date your work.
• Use Ruler and Colours to make it more
memorable.
Key Questions:
Do you have to write every word? Can you use abbreviations?
Do you have to write at all?
How will you make a set of notes that you can come back to?
What types of jobs use psychology?
Plenary: Draw a Penguin
On a blank piece of paper, draw a penguin.
The penguin is of the animal variety.
DO NOT look at your neighbor's penguin.
Is this psychology?
Why not?
Results:
If the penguin is drawn toward the top of the paper you are a positive and optimistic person.
If the penguin is drawn towards the middle of the page you are a realist.
If the penguin is drawn toward the bottom of the page, you are pessimistic and have a tendency to
behave negatively.
If the penguin is facing left, you believe in tradition, are friendly, and remember dates and birthdays.
If the picture is facing forward (towards you) you are direct, enjoy playing the devil's advocate, and
neither fear nor avoid discussion.
If the penguin is facing right, you are innovative and active, but have neither a sense of family, nor
remember dates.
If the penguin is drawn with many details, you are analytical, cautious, and distrustful.
If the penguin is drawn with few details, you are emotional, naive, care little for detail, and take risks.
The larger the penguin’s ears you have drawn, the better listener you are.
Homework:
Write a 400 word essay
‘What is psychology and how will it be helpful to
me in the future?
Deadline:.