Ch 1 Flashcards
Science
A systematic way of knowing
There are two assumptions
- Process: empiricism + logic
- Body of provisional knowledge
Psychology
The science or scientific study of the mind and behavior
Mind
A system that
- creates and controls mental processes (cognition)
- creates mental representations of the world
- guides behavior toward goals
What are mental representations?
A hypothetical entity that is presumed to stand for a perception, thought, memory, or the like during cognitive operations.
What are mental processes?
Simple tasks for example
What your mind has to do to get something done whether it be answering a questions or accomplishing tasks
- Answering a question like what is the largest state in the USA?
- Getting to this room/class today… You had to get up, get ready, maybe eat, put on your clothes, walk to your car, drive to school….etc.
What is Cognitive Psychology?
The scientific study of thought
The scientific study of how the mind:
- creates and controls mental processes [cognition]
- creates mental representations of the world
- guides behavior and goals
Types of Mental Processes
Sensation
Perception
Attention
Object recognition
Categories/Knowledge
Imagery (visualizing)
Memory
Language
Reasoning/judgement/decision making
Problem solving
All of which include “hidden” processes of which we may not be aware
Cognition
Here is a series of definitions
Acquisition, storage, transformation, and use of knowledge
Thinking and mental processes
- Manipulation of mental representations of features of the external world
The study of mental processes by which the information humans receive from their environment is modified, made meaningful, stored, retrieved, used, and communicated to others
How the mind works (mind as an information processing device that solves problems relevant to its owner)
Cognitive Psychology: ‘Factory’ Metaphor
The parts go into the factory and ‘something happens’ and then outcomes a car. The essence of cognitive psychology is taking all three steps into account
Input (Stimuli) —-> Processing (Mind) —-> Output (Response)
This shows the mind as an information processing device that solves problems relevant to its owner
Simple behaviors are very complex
- Composed of many individual processes or “cognitions”
- They occur very quickly (in milliseconds not seconds
- We often have limited awareness of these processes
Some processes are controlled
- Processes that require conscious effort/awareness to execute
- Mostly occur in serial
Many processes have both automatic and controlled components
Some processes are automatic
- Processes that occurred without awareness or effort
- Can occur in parallel
Many processes have both automatic and controlled components
What is cognitive psychology
- The scientific study of mental processes
- A branch of experimental psychology
-A combination of basic and applied research, with heavy emphasis on applied research
What is NOT Cognitive Psychology?
- Clinical Psychology: Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy, mental disorders, individual differences
- Pseudoscience: ESP (Extra Sensory Perception), mind reading, dream interpretation, astrology
Why does cognitive psychology matter?
- Almost everything you do involves thought (cognition)
- Cognitive Psychology intersects with other areas of psychology
- Understanding cognition is like having an owner’s manual for your mind
