Psyc 2012 Information Outline – Psychological Science I
Psychology – the scientific study (describe, predict, and explain) of behavior (prosocial
behavior, antisocial behavior, sexual behavior, prejudice and discrimination, creativity,
organizational behavior, relationship behavior, goal pursuit, online behavior, abnormal
behavior, animal behavior) and mental processes (perceptions, ideas, beliefs, thoughts,
emotions, motivations, memories).
1. What’s wrong with intuition?
Can lead to false avenues, leads to a number of myths and misconceptions.
When using intuition, it will lead to a host of biases. (Systematic errors in perception)
Examples:
Sugar leads to hyperactivity for kids; not true as they are always hyperactivated.
Holding in anger and letting it all out will reduce anger; not true as it will build up as it feels
good to keep letting it out and will eventually hurt people.
Hindsight bias –
What is it? - The inclination to see an event as having been predictable, despite there
having been little or no objective basis for predicting it, prior to its occurrence.
What is an example of it? – a person saying ofc trump supporters raided the capital.
Why do we do it? – Because we are motivated to believe that the world is orderly and
predictable.
Overconfidence –
What is it? – We are more confident than correct (e.g., judgments and abilities)
What is an example of it? – A survey results have come in and showed that 98% of
people think that they are better than average drivers, however, that is not a balanced
result.
- “One of the painful things about our time is that those who feel certainty are
stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt
and indecision.” -Bertrand Russell
Why do we do it? – Having a basic sense of the world and do not look at how different
and extended the world really is.
The Dunning-Kruger effect –
What is it? -The least competent people tend to be the most overconfident.
What is an example of it? – Data showing a graph where the people who believe they
got a high score on the test, would get a low score and that results in being overconfident.
Under confidence would be a person thinking they got a low score but would actually
get a higher score than the initial thought.
