1. Introduction Flashcards
Historical approach:
Gestalt
Early 20th century
Laws of grouping: human is biased to perceive whole objects, rather than their parts
Historical approach:
Cognitive
50s 60s
Cognitive revolution: from behaviourism to cognition; mental representations and information-processing
A Study of Thinking (Bruner): thesis that thinking can be studied experimentally.
Behaviour is a result of thinking. Representation of internal and external events as internalized mental representations
Mental representation:
stable state of activation within a cognitive/neural system that corresponds to an event, object or idea. We generally think about them in the same way each time
Dual process account or dual systems theory
2 cognitive and neuropsychological systems that underlie the thinking process.
- System 1: relatively fast, unconscious, autonomous and independent of general intelligence or working memory ability system that operates via associative mechanism. Relies on neural structures that are evolutionary primitive (lower cortical structure). (shared by humans and non-humans.
- System 2: slow, conscious and deliberative system that relies on cortical neural structures
Cognitive neuroscience
connectionism between neural networks and cognitive process
Basic concepts:
Superior cognitive processes vs basic ones
Superior:
- Thinking
- Cognition
- Intelligence
- Language
Basic:
- perception
- attention
- sensation
- concentration
- memory
- emotion
- motivation
Basic concepts:
Thinking
and factors that intervene in the act of thinking
No universal definition, but it is universal and innate
Factors that intervene:
- subject
- process itself
- content of thought
- verbal expression
Basic concepts:
Thinking
Factors that influence thinking: BIOpsychosocial perspective
Greater brain doesn’t mean greater intelligence.
Development of the cortex coordinates folding with connectivity to produce smaller, faster brains.
Higher cognitive functions are bound to brain properties and degrees in cognitive functions and intelligence correlate well with degrees of brain complexity
(nº of neuronal cells, pattern of short/long-term connections, nº of diff cell types)
Basic concepts:
Thinking
Factors that influence thinking: biopsychoSOCIAL perspective
Cultural psych: relationships between culture and thinking processes (eg. content)
- Symbolic approach
- Cognition in context approach
- Socio-historical approach
Traditional transcultural psychology
- positivist tradition
- Universality of the info. processing apparatus
Basic concepts:
Thinking
Factors that influence thinking: bioPSYCHOsocial perspective
Cognitive processes:
- previous knowledge
- personal background
- cognitive structure of subject
- schemas
- metaphorical structure of knowledge
Emotional and motivational processes: interaction between emotional and rational structures, and emotional intelligence (correlation with efficiency in hot cognitive tasks.
Intelligence and thinking
Intelligence
Ability to learn from one’s experiences, acquire knowledge, and use resources effectively when problem solving.
Sum of mental capacities such as abstract thinking, understanding, communication, problem-solving, reasoning, learning and memory formation and action planning.
Measured by intelligence tests and IQ values.
Intelligence and thinking
Spearman’s two-factor theory
g factor (general intelligence): ability to reason and solve problems
s factor (specific intelligence): ability to excell in certain areas
Intelligence and thinking
Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence
- Analytical intelligence (academic ability)
- Creative intelligence (creativity and insight)
- Practical intelligence (street smart)
Intelligence and thinking
Emotional intelligence
Ability to perceive, appraise, express, access, generate, understand and regulate emotions and feelings to promote emotional and intellectual growth
Intelligence and thinking
Emotional intelligence
Ability to perceive, appraise, express, access, generate, understand and regulate emotions and feelings to promote emotional and intellectual growth
