Psychology for VCE Units 1 and 2, 9e learnON & Print

About this resource ix
Acknowledgements xvi

Exam terminology 1

Psychology — Key science skills and research methods

1 Key science skills and research methods in psychology 3

1.1 Overview 4
1.2 Aims, hypotheses and variables 11
1.3 Scientific investigation methodologies 25
1.4 Controlled experiments 36
1.5 Correlational studies 47
1.6 Self-reports 54
1.7 Observational studies 62
1.8 Case studies 69
1.9 Simulation studies 73
1.10 Sources of error and their control or minimisation 78
1.11 Types of extraneous variables and their control 86
1.12 Ethical considerations in psychological research and reporting 102
1.13 Types of data 110
1.14 Data organisation and presentation 116
1.15 Evaluation of data and research 123
1.16 Review 143

Unit 1 How are Behaviour and Mental Processes Shaped?

2 The complexity of psychological development 157

2.1 Overview 158
2.2 Interactive influences of hereditary and environmental factors 166
2.3 The biopsychosocial model 171
2.4 Emotional development 174
2.5 Cognitive development 188
2.6 Social development 204
2.7 Sensitive and critical periods in psychological development 219
2.8 Review 222

3 Defining and supporting psychological development 229

3.1 Overview 230
3.2 Categorising behaviour as typical or atypical 231
3.3 Concepts of normality and neurotypicality 242
3.4 Neurodiversity—normal variations of brain development within society 244
3.5 Supporting psychological development and mental wellbeing 268
3.6 Review 283

4 Role of the brain in mental processes and behaviour 289

4.1 Overview 290
4.2 Approaches over time to understanding the role of the brain 294
4.3 First brain experiments 303
4.4 Roles of brain areas 319
4.5 Review 341

5 Brain plasticity and brain injury 347

5.1 Overview 348
5.2 Factors influencing brain plasticity 350
5.3 Impact of an acquired brain injury 357
5.4 Neurological disorders 372
5.5 Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) 376
5.6 Review 380

Unit 2 How Do Internal and External Factors Influence Behaviour and Mental Processes? 386

6 Social cognition 389

6.1 Overview 390
6.2 Person perception — forming impressions of other people 392
6.3 Attributions — explaining behaviour 400
6.4 Attitudes 405
6.5 Stereotypes 410
6.6 Cognitive dissonance 413
6.7 Cognitive bias 416
6.8 Heuristics 423
6.9 Prejudice and discrimination 426
6.10 Ways to reduce prejudice 432
6.11 Review 440

7 Factors that influence individual and group behaviour 447

7.1 Overview 448
7.2 Social groups and culture 450
7.3 Status and power 454
7.4 Groupthink 464
7.5 Group polarisation 468
7.6 Deindividuation 471
7.7 Obedience 474
7.8 Conformity 484
7.9 Influences of media on behaviour 494
7.10 Empowering individual decision-making when in groups 511
7.11 Review 513

8 Perception 521

8.1 Overview 522
8.2 Role of attention in making sense of the world around us 525
8.3 Role of perception in the processing and interpretation of sensory information 532
8.4 Visual perception 535
8.5 Gustatory perception 558
8.6 Review 569

9 Distortions of perception 575

9.1 Overview 576
9.2 Visual illusions 578
9.3 Agnosia 585
9.4 Supertasters 590
9.5 Exposure to miraculin 593
9.6 Judgment of flavours 595
9.7 Synaesthesia 601
9.8 Spatial neglect 604
9.9 Review 608

Glossary 615
References
Index 627