Frequently Frequently Asked Asked

Questions Questions About About

PsychologyPsychologyChapter 1, Lecture 4Chapter 1, Lecture 4

“Is it an accident that astronomy is the oldestscience and psychology the youngest? To somepeople, exploring the external universe seemsfar safer than exploring our own inner universe.”

- David Myers

Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology

Q1. Can laboratory experiments illuminate everyday life?

Ans: Artificial laboratory conditions are created to study behavior in simplistic terms. The goal is

to find underlying principles that govern behavior.

FAQQ2. Does behavior depend on one’s culture and gender?

Ans: Even when specific attitudes and behaviors vary across cultures, as they often do, the underlying processes

are much the same. Biology determines our sex, and culture further bends the genders. However, in many ways

woman and man are similarly human.

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Interesting Cultural Norms• Hissing is a polite way to show respect for superiorsin Japan.

• In the village of Bang Chan in Thailand, face-to-faceconflict must be avoided at all costs, even to the pointof not reporting something unpleasant. For example,one would not say, “Your house is burning.” Better toask, “Why don’t you go see your house?” The politeway to say “no” is to giggle. Although women may begreatly disturbed by their husbands’ taking additionalwives, they would say nothing because they would notwant to put anyone on the spot.

Interesting Cultural Norms• Among the Karaki of New Guinea a man is considered“abnormal” if he has not engaged in homosexualbehavior before marriage.

• In many societies where hunger is endemic, fatwomen are viewed as much more attractive thanslender ones.

• In Japan, it’s quite acceptable for parents to hire anagency to investigate the background of theirdaughter’s potential marriage partner.

Interesting Cultural Norms• By leaving some food on the plate, a guest in Indiaindicates the generosity of the host who has put somuch food out that no one could eat it all. In fact, well-meaning visitors can find themselves offending theirhosts by following their own custom of eating all thefood served to them.

• Public displays of affection between men and womenin Thailand are unacceptable. Interestingly, however,men holding hands is considered a sign of friendship.

Interesting Cultural Norms• In Latin cultures, children, especially girls, aresocialized to value conformity to social norms.Rebelliousness and delinquency are rare. Mexicanadolescents will be reluctant to engage in any activitythat might bring shame to their families.

Interesting Gender Differences• Whose hands are warmer?Whose hands are warmer?Usually a man’s because, at room temperature, healthymen have a larger flow of blood to their fingers thando healthy women. When a woman warms up,however, the flow of blood to her hands will exceed aman’s because her blood vessels are more expandable.Thus, her body can accept 40 percent more bloodduring pregnancy with no increase in blood pressure.

Interesting Gender Differences• Whose forehead is more likely to feel warm?Whose forehead is more likely to feel warm?

A woman’s, but it depends are the time of the month.Normal temperature of either sex is 98.6 F. However,at ovulation a woman’s temperature increases aboutone degree and remains there for 12 to 14 days untiljust before menstruation.

Interesting Gender Differences• Whose armpits are smellier?Whose armpits are smellier?

A woman’s. Men perspire most heavily on the upperchest from glands secreting only salts and water.Women sweat most heavily under the arms fromglands that secrete fatty substances in addition tosalts and water. Bacteria digest the fatty substancesand their byproducts make this sweat smelly.

Interesting Gender Differences• Whose nose knows this rose from that rose?Whose nose knows this rose from that rose?

Probably a woman’s. The ability to smell, taste, andhear is influenced by a variety of hormones butespecially the adrenal hormones. At almost everypoint in the cycle, a woman’s senses are more acute.Her senses become even sharper as the monthlyproduction of estrogen increases, peaking at ovulation.

Interesting Gender Differences• Who is most likely to wake in the night withWho is most likely to wake in the night witha stomachache?a stomachache?

A man, two to one. A gnawing pain in the middle ofthe night is a common symptom to a duodenal ulcer,still primarily a male affliction.

• Who’s gasping for air in the bedroom?Who’s gasping for air in the bedroom?

Probably a man. Men below age 55 are 10 to 15 timesmore likely to suffer from sleep apnea. After age 55women catch up.

Interesting Gender Differences• Who’s that sneezing in the living room?Who’s that sneezing in the living room?

If it’s hay fever season, probably a man. The peoplemost likely to be afflicted by airborne allergies are18- to 24-year-old men, 33 percent of whom sufferwhen there’s house dust or pollen in the air, versusonly 24 percent of women that age. Men of all agesare more likely to be allergic to plant pollens, womenare more likely to be allergic to cats and dogs. No oneknows why.

Interesting Gender Differences• Who is more likely to be depressed?Who is more likely to be depressed?

In 2003, 19 million Americans suffered from a seriousdepression. Two out of three were women. Over thecourse of their lives, 21.3 percent of women and 12.7percent of men experience at least one bout ofdepression.

• Who is more likely to develop Parkinson’sWho is more likely to develop Parkinson’sdisease? Alzheimer’s disease?disease? Alzheimer’s disease?

Men are twice as likely as women to developParkinson’s. Women are twice as likely as men todevelop Alzheimer’s.

Interesting Gender Differences• Whose heart will still be beating when it’sWhose heart will still be beating when it’s78 years old?78 years old?

Odds are, a woman’s. Life expectancy is approximately81 years and 76 years for U.S. women and men,respectively. In Russia, women outlive men by 13.6years. In Japan, the life expectancy is 85.56 for womenand 78.67 for men. However, in Afghanistan, Lesotho,Swaziland, and Niger, men outlive women.

FAQQ3. Why do psychologists study animals, and is it

ethical to experiment on animals?

Ans: Studying animals gives us the understanding of many behaviors that may have common biology across

animals and humans. From animal studies, we have gained insights to devastating and fatal diseases. All

researchers who deal with animal research are required to follow ethical guidelines in caring for these animals.

D. Shapiro, © Wildlife Conservation Society

Take a look at “Tom the Dancing Bug”

FAQ

Q4. Is it ethical to experiment on people?

Ans: Yes. Experiments that do not involve any kind of physical or psychological harm beyond normal levels encountered in daily

life may be carried out.

FAQ

Q5. Is psychology free of value judgments?

Ans: No. Psychology emerges from people who subscribe to a set of values and judgments.

© Roger Shepard

FAQ

Q6. Is psychology potentially dangerous?

Ans: It can be, but is not when practiced responsibly. The purpose of psychology is to help humanity with problems such as war,

hunger, prejudice, crime, family dysfunction, etc.

Major ethical guidelines for research with humans:

1. Freedom from Coercion – not ethical to pressure someone into participating in an experiment

2. Informed Consent – must explain experiment to possible participants, they are free to withdraw at any time

3. Limited Deception – two conditions: a) deception can only involve aspects of the study that don’t influence the decision to participate b) deception must be fully revealed at completion

4. Adequate Debriefing – participants have the right to know the results of the study

5. Confidentiality – data from study must protect anonymity of the participants

Returning to the question of ethics withReturning to the question of ethics withhuman research, let’s read about one ofhuman research, let’s read about one ofthe most famous psychology experiments:the most famous psychology experiments:Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiment.Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiment.

HomeworkAY Questions: p.20, p.33 (10 pts)