Parapsychology What psychology is not Benefits of Psychology

Parapsychology What psychology is not…

Benefits of Psychology Activity �On a separate sheet of paper, brainstorm and identify the benefits you hope to gain by studying psychology. �You must come up with at least 10 things.

Para/pseudopsychology (What Psychology is not. ) �Parapsychology - the field of study concerned with the supernatural or other phenomena that science cannot explain. �AKA – Phony, fake, or unscientific psychology. �ESP – Extra sensory perception

Dangers of Para/Pseudopsychology �Can cause: �Beliefs of racial superiority �Beliefs of demonic possession as a cause of metal illness �Lobotomies �Etc

More Specific Dangers of Pseudopsychology �Confirmation Bias – We pay attention to events that confirm our beliefs and ignore evidence that contradicts them. �Fraud – Waste time, money, and talent on inaccurate methods. �Can be used to falsely confirm racial or sexual stereotypes. �Acceptance of inaccurate methods for treating psychological disorders. �Facilitated communication

4 forms of ESP �Precognition – Ability to know about events before the occur. �Psychokinesis – Ability to make objects move by thinking of them as moving. �Telepathy – The direct transmission of thoughts or ideas from persons to person without anything being spoken or written down. �Clairvoyance – The ability to perceive objects that are out of the range of human senses.

What is Psychology? �Psychology – The scientific study of behavior and mental processes. �Behavior – An action that other people can observe or measure.

Goals of Psychology �Explain, predict, and control behavior. �Psychologists organize their ideas about behavior and mental processes into theories. �Theory – A statement that attempts to explain why things are the way they are and happen the way they do.