Explain to Students

1. Psychology and why it is a science, how it is a science.
2. Pseudoscience and common logical fallacies
3. Predictability of human behaviour

Explain 1.0 - Psychology

Definition of Psychology - The scientific study of the mind, brain and behavior. Also displays emergent properties.

• Explain that the “Rings” of psychological analysis. -> Could be analyzed from a Cellular level -> Social/Cultural influences.

• Explain how psychology is a “Science”.

  • Science is empirical, it’s an approach to evidence
  • Knowledge should be acquired through observation

Explain 1.5 - Key Point - Define Science

Explain 2.0 - Fallacies

Define Fallacy:

Examples of common fallacies:

• Naive Realism -> Seeing is believing
• Common sense contradictions
  • Birds of a feather flock together, Opposite attracts

Important Discussion for Students

1. Pseudoscience

A set of claims that seem scientific but aren’t

• No safeguards against confirmation bias.
• Belief perseverance -> Sticking to your belief religiously even when theres no proof otherwise.

Characteristics of Pseudoscience:

1. Overuse of ad-hoc(means “for this”aka created for this or for a specific reason) immunizing hypothesis: Use of a hypothesis to “Immunize” their claims. Eg: “The psychic powers dont work because they have to be in a non-specific condition”

2. Self correction -> Self corrects itself and if not it phases out of relevance.

3. Overreliance on anecdotal evidence (personal stories to evidence its claims)

2. Why are we drawn to it?

1. Brain works by organizing thoughts, it looks to order and create links between things that might not need to be linked.