Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Psychologists striving to understand the human mind may study the nervous system. Learning how the body’s cells and organs function can help us understand the biological basis…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Psychological researchers study genetics in order to better understand the biological factors that contribute to certain behaviors. While all humans share certain biological mechanisms, we are each…
Figure 3.1 Different brain imaging techniques provide scientists with insight into different aspects of how the human brain functions. Left to right, PET scan (positron emission tomography), CT scan (computerized tomography), and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) are three types of scans.…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, as you will read…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Did you know that as sales in ice cream increase, so does the overall rate of crime? Is it possible that indulging in your favorite flavor of…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it. Some…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Scientific research is a critical tool for successfully navigating our complex world. Without it, we would be forced to rely solely on intuition, other people’s authority, and…
Figure 2.1 How does television content impact children’s behavior? (credit: modification of work by “antisocialtory”/Flickr) Chapter Outline 2.1 Why Is Research Important? 2.2 Approaches to Research 2.3 Analyzing Findings 2.4 Ethics Have you ever wondered whether the violence you see on television affects your behavior? Are…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Psychologists can work in many different places doing many different things. In general, anyone wishing to continue a career in psychology at a 4-year institution of higher…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Contemporary psychology is a diverse field that is influenced by all of the historical perspectives described in the preceding section. Reflective of the discipline’s diversity is the…