PSY100Y - Introduction to Psychology

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PSY100Y - Introduction to Psychology

• Instructor Dr. Dax Urbszat,
• B.Sc., L.L.B., M.A., Ph. D.
• Office Room 4093 Sidney Smith Hall
• Office hours Wednesdays 100-300

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Psychology

• Psyche soul
• Logos to study
• Wilhelm Wundt (1870s) combines the disciplines of
  philosophy and physiology

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What is Psychology?

• Psychology is the scientific study of behavior.
• anything an animal or human does, feels, or
  thinks.
• Psychology is a science firmly based in empirical
  research.
• Psychology has broad application.

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Major Perspectives

• Biological
• Psychoanalytic
• Behavioral
• Humanistic
• Cognitive
• Evolutionary

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Major Areas of Research

• Social
• Physiological
• Cognitive/Perception
• Personality/Abnormal
• Developmental
• Psychometrics
• Health
• Forensics

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Professional Practice

• Experimental/Academic
• Clinical
• Counseling
• Educational
• Industrial Organization
• Sports
• Forensics

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Psychological Themes

1. Psychology is empirical
2. Psychology is theoretically driven
3. Psychology evolves in a socio-historic context
4. Behavior is determined by multiple causes
5. Behavior is shaped by cultural heritage
6. Heredity and environment jointly influence
   behavior
7. Peoples experience of the world is highly
   subjective

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Improving Academic Performance

• Read chapters before class
• Come to every lecture
• Print and read powerpoint slides before lectures
• Developing sound study habits
• Scheduling (list making)
• - implementation intentions
• Study without distractions
• Reward your studying

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Improving Your Reading

• Survey
• Question
• Read
• Recite
• Review

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Getting More Out of Lectures

• Read chapters before class
• Try to listen more than write
• Put ideas in your own words
• Ask questions
• Try not to be passive learner

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Improve Test Taking

• Set a schedule
• Answer all the questions you know first and skip
  the ones you are not sure of till later
• Keep it simple
• Review (leave a few minutes in your schedule for
  this)

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Multiple Choice Exams

• Try to anticipate the answer
• Always read the entire question
• Eliminate implausible options
• Broad sweeping generalizations tend to be
  incorrect
• Carefully qualified statements tend to be correct

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Essay Exams

• Make time allocations based on marks and your
  knowledge
• ORGANIZE do a brief outline
• Number points or use headings
• Use catch words and technical terminology