Introduction to
Psychology
Prof.: Dr. Myriam Mongrain
Music:
“See You Again” Miley Cyrus
“Crazy” Gnarles Barkley
PSYC 1010H: Today’s Agenda
• A. Ground Rules
• B. Course Information
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Your TAs
Exams
Text and Psych Now demonstration
URPP (Undergraduate Research Participant Pool)
• C. Short Lecture:
– 1) Formal Definition of Psychology
– 2) Goals of Psychology
– 3 ) Careers in Psychology
A. Ground Rules
• When the music stops
– we begin! i.e. Stop talking
• 1 hour lecture followed by 15 minute break (get a snack!)
• Another 1 hour lecture
– Films sometimes shown
• Tutorial:
– Not required (but recommended)
• Student questions
• Review of text/ Multiple choice questions
– Time?: (Official times and locations will be announced next week)
• Tues. 2:30 or 3:30
• Wed. 10:30
• Thurs. 9:30 or 10:30
B. Course Information
• Your TAs:
– Andrea, Jacqueline, Leah, Susan and Tracy
• Exams
– Policy on Academic Honesty (see course outline)
– Missed exams: Consult course outline
– Grades: www.psych.yorku.ca/mongrain/teaching
• Minimum grade for Psych. Majors
• Text
– Psych Now demonstration
– Available for sale outside classroom
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. today
C. Short Lecture (p. 21-25 of text)
• 1) Formal definition of Psychology
• 2) Goals of Psychology
• 3) Careers in Psychology
C. 1) Formal Definition of
Psychology
• “Scientific study of behaviour and its causes.”
– Overt (directly observable) and covert behaviours
• Psychologists study:
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How you act (behaviour/overt)
How you think (mental/covert)
How you feel (covert & overt)
How your brain and body respond
(physiological/covert)
C. 2) Goals of Psychology
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i) Measure and describe behaviour objectively
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e.g. Extraversion
ii) Understand (explain) and predict behaviour using
the scientific method
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Demonstration with Dr. Mongrain’s psychic abilities
Employ critical thinking:
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E.g. look for alternative explanations (p. 36-37)
Rudimentary statistics demonstrated with astrology
iii) Modify behaviour to improve quality of life and
increase well-being
C. 3) Careers in Psychology
• i) Professional Practice:
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Clinical/Counseling
• Clinical Psychologists
• (vs. psychiatrists, psychoanalysts)
– Educational/School Psychology
– Industrial/Organizational
C. 3) Careers in Psychology
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ii) Research/Academia:
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Developmental
Social
Experimental
Physiological
Cognitive
Personality
Psychometrics
Abnormal/Clinical
Health
See you next week…