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Myth #2: Psychology is NOT a science

Myth #2: Psychology is NOT a science. Science v. Pseudoscience. Psychological Myths. A combination of misconceptions, urban legends, & old wives’ tales. Why are we so susceptible? KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! 1800’s: Phrenology was the rage. “Have Your Head E xamined!”. Still around …

kirby-taylor
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Myth #2: Psychology is NOT a science

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  1. Myth #2:Psychology is NOTa science Science v. Pseudoscience

  2. Psychological Myths • A combination of misconceptions, urban legends, & old wives’ tales. • Why are we so susceptible? • KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! • 1800’s: Phrenology was the rage

  3. “Have Your Head Examined!” • Still around… • “Phrenology is the science which studies the relationships between a person's character and the morphology of the skull…Today,  much of the criticism against Phrenology can be easily dismissed.” http://www.phrenology.org/intro.html (emphasis added) • Problem with phrenology? • fMRI

  4. SCIENCE is... • HOW something is studied, NOT WHAT. • Systematic and precise • Public, open to scrutiny (peer reviewed journals) • Scientists try to rule stuff out, not PROVE. • Tentative; MORE is learned over time, changes with evidence (replication) • Solving SOLVEALBE problems (“Does God exist?)

  5. Pseudoscience is… • “Pseudo” means fake • Aimed at the general public • Research cannot be reproduced (replicated), not precise • The “file drawer” problem • Skeptics must demonstrate proof; fixed ideas • Appeals to belief or faith; relies on personal testimony

  6. Example: Therapeutic Touch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNoRxCRJ-Y0 Stossel Testing Therapeutic Touch

  7. Other Examples of Pseudoscience… • How do you explain these?

  8. Must Be Aliens!! • Spaceships landing • Invisible energy beams from space OR…. • Horny/busy hedgehogs… • Electrically charged air currents (dust devils’ “Plasma Vortex Theory”)? OR … • Occam’s Razor (the simplest explanation is probably the best) • Man-made hoaxes

  9. Doug & Dave, 1991

  10. Other Pseudoscience? Polygraph machines…aka “lie detectors” Measures: • heart rate • blood pressure • respiratory rate • sweatiness (fingers) • infers “increase” means deception

  11. Can You Detect a Liar? Not the first method! *Rice test Charles Moulton Marston

  12. Polygraphs…research says… #1: There is no evidence that any pattern of physiological reactions is unique to deception • An honest person may be nervous when answering truthfully • A dishonest person may be non-anxious #2: Countermeasures can be effective • Counting backwards, tack in shoe, breathing changes #3: Significant error rates • Not admissible in a court of law as evidence

  13. Discovering Psychology #4: Placebo-like effects • The person believes that the test/pill works • “I really did feel tingling …” Understanding Research: #12 (20:19) http://www.learner.org/vod/vod_window.html?pid=1499

  14. Really “Arousal” Detectors, not “Lie” Detectors • But, 67% of American public believe they are effective • Good for anything? “Guilty knowledge test” Seldom admissible in court • Makes for good drama and ratings!

  15. Detecting lies: microexpressions Brief facial expression (1/25th sec.); occurs when person either deliberately or unconsciously conceals an emotion being felt. Paul Ekman: The Role of Microexpressions Lie Detection http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBLWh6bbmLE

  16. Building your Mythbusting Kit WE MUST: #1: Become aware of the sources of error #2: Learn to compensate for them

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