Myth #1 – What Are the Take-Aways?
• Common Sense, Intuition, and Snap Judgments are more
of a reflection of what has happened and has been
researched then what will happen.
• Thus, MISTRUST your “common sense” when you hear
something or read something about Psychology.
• Find research EVIDENCE to support claims.
• Don’t buy into something just because it says “studies show.”
• Science can be and often IS “uncommon” sense – it requires us to
put aside our personal bias and belief systems and focus primarily
on EVIDENCE!
• Think about those “experts” and their predictions for Milgrim’s research.
• Think about your assumptions about whether or not people would steal
a baby.
Psychological Myths
• A combination of misconceptions, urban legends, & old
wives’ tales.
• Why are we so susceptible?
• KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
• 1800’s: Phrenology was the rage
“Have Your Head Examined!”
• Still around…
2.
“Phrenology is the science which studies the
relationships between a person's character and the
morphology of the skull…Today, much of the
criticism against Phrenology can be easily
dismissed.” http://www.phrenology.org/intro.html (emphasis added)
• Problem with phrenology?
• fMRI
MYTH #2:
PSYCHOLOGY IS NOT
A SCIENCE
Science v. Pseudoscience
2. SCIENCE is...
• HOW something is studied, NOT WHAT.
• Systematic and precise
• Public, open to scrutiny (peer reviewed journals)
• Scientists try to rule stuff out, not PROVE.
• Tentative; MORE is learned over time, changes with
evidence (replication)
• Solving SOLVEALBE problems (“Does God exist?)
3. Pseudoscience is…
• “Pseudo” means fake
• Aimed at the general public
• Research cannot be reproduced (replicated), not precise
• The “file drawer” problem
• Skeptics must demonstrate proof; fixed ideas
• Appeals to belief or faith; relies on personal testimony
4. Example: Therapeutic Touch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNoRxCRJ-Y0
Stossel Testing Therapeutic Touch
Other Examples of Pseudoscience…
• How do you explain these?
Must Be Aliens!!
• Spaceships landing
• Invisible energy beams from space
OR….
• Horny/busy hedgehogs…
• Electrically charged air currents (dust devils’ “Plasma
Vortex Theory”)?
OR …
5. Occam’s Razor (the simplest explanation is probably
the best)
• Man-made hoaxes
Doug & Dave, 1991
Other Pseudoscience?
6.
Polygraph machines…aka “lie detectors”
Measures:
• heart rate
• blood pressure
• respiratory rate
• sweatiness (fingers)
• infers “increase” means deception
Can You Detect a Liar?
Not the first method!
*Rice test
Charles Moulton Marston
7. Polygraphs…research says…
#1:
There is no evidence that any pattern of
physiological reactions is unique to deception
• An honest person may be nervous when answering truthfully
• A dishonest person may be non-anxious
#2:
Countermeasures can be effective
• Counting backwards, tack in shoe, breathing changes
#3:
Significant error rates
• Not admissible in a court of law as evidence
Discovering Psychology
#4: Placebo-like effects
• The person believes that the test/pill works
• “I really did feel tingling …”
Understanding Research: #2 (start at 20:19)
http://www.learner.org/resources/series138.html#
Really “Arousal” Detectors, not “Lie”
Detectors
• But, 67% of American public believe they are effective
• Good for anything?
“Guilty knowledge test”
Seldom admissible in court
• Makes for good drama and ratings!
• 8.
Do you think they should be used for hiring/firing?
As evidence in a court case? Explain.
Detecting lies: microexpressions
9.
Brief facial expression (1/25th sec.); occurs when
person either deliberately or unconsciously conceals
an emotion being felt.
Paul Ekman: The Role of Microexpressions Lie Detection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBLWh6bbmLE