AULA 1 | Breve Histórico da Psicologia como Ciência | CRP 12/04679

Summary

In this lecture, Priscila Pinheiro introduces the distinction between common sense psychology and scientific psychology. She explains how people often use 'psychology' in everyday life based on personal experiences, such as in sales or advice from friends. However, scientific psychology involves a systematic, objective study of human behavior, seeking to uncover the reasons behind actions through controlled methods. The lecture emphasizes the importance of moving beyond personal experience and adopting a scientific approach, drawing parallels to Newton's discovery of gravity to highlight the value of abstraction and testing in understanding psychological phenomena.

Takeaways

• 😀 Psychology as commonly understood in everyday life is different from psychology as a scientific discipline.
• 😀 Everyday 'psychology' relies on personal experience and intuition, not systematic scientific research.
• 😀 Examples like a salesperson persuading a customer or a friend offering advice demonstrate common-sense psychology.
• 😀 In scientific psychology, professionals analyze human behavior using rigorous, objective methods, distancing personal experiences from their observations.
• 😀 The goal of scientific psychology is to understand the 'why' behind behavior and events, not just the 'what.'
• 😀 A key difference between common-sense psychology and scientific psychology is the use of controlled, tested methods to verify facts.
• 😀 Scientific psychology requires a systematic approach with clear steps, goals, and control over variables to ensure reliable results.
• 😀 Personal experiences may shape our perceptions, but in science, these experiences are separated from observations to avoid bias.
• 😀 Newton's discovery of gravity, based on everyday experience (a falling apple), is an example of moving from common knowledge to scientific explanation.
• 😀 The distinction between common-sense and scientific psychology is crucial for students, as they must learn to approach psychological knowledge from a scientific perspective.
• 😀 In future lessons, the historical development of psychology will be explored, emphasizing the transition from common understanding to scientific methodology.

Q & A

What is the main difference between common-sense psychology and scientific psychology?

The main difference is that common-sense psychology is based on personal experiences and informal observations, whereas scientific psychology relies on systematic, controlled, and evidence-based methods to study human behavior.

Why does Priscila emphasize the need to differentiate between common-sense psychology and scientific psychology?

Priscila emphasizes this differentiation to help students understand that psychology as a science requires more than personal experiences. It involves rigorous methods to ensure accurate and replicable results.

How does Priscila explain the concept of psychology in everyday situations, such as in sales or advice from a friend?

Priscila uses examples like a salesperson persuading a customer or a friend offering advice to show that in these situations, psychology is being applied based on experience rather than scientific study.

What role do personal experiences play in common-sense psychology?

In common-sense psychology, personal experiences play a central role, as people often use their own experiences to interpret and solve problems, without applying systematic or scientific methods.

How does the scientific approach in psychology differ from common-sense approaches in terms of observation?

The scientific approach in psychology requires detachment from personal experiences and involves observing phenomena in a structured, controlled environment to draw conclusions that are universally applicable.

What example does Priscila give to explain the concept of scientific thinking?

Priscila references Newton’s discovery of the law of gravity. She explains how Newton moved from personal experience (a falling apple) to scientific abstraction, leading to the formulation of the law of gravity.

What is the role of 'abstraction' in scientific psychology?

Abstraction in scientific psychology involves moving beyond personal experience to identify generalizable patterns or laws that explain human behavior, rather than just describing a specific event or experience.

How does Priscila describe the importance of systematic programming and control in scientific psychology?

Priscila stresses that scientific psychology requires a structured, step-by-step approach, where variables are controlled and tested to ensure the findings are accurate and replicable.

What does Priscila mean by 'validity' in the context of psychological research?

Validity refers to the accuracy and trustworthiness of the results obtained in psychological research. It ensures that the findings are reflective of the phenomena being studied and not biased by personal experiences.

How does Priscila use the example of the alcohol-powered motor to explain scientific advancement?

Priscila uses the example of the alcohol-powered motor to demonstrate how scientific advancements are built upon previous knowledge. Researchers began with existing technology (gasoline engines) and systematically developed a new solution based on testing and controlled experimentation.