Ch.4 Cognition, consciousness and language

Question 1

Study of Cognition

Answer 1

How our brains process and react to info overload presented by the world

Question 2

Pillars of information processing model

Answer 2

• Thinking requires sensation, encoding, and storage of stimuli
• Stimuli must be analyzed by the brain (rather than responded to automatically) to be useful in decision making
• Decisions made in one situation can be extrapolated and adjusted to help solve new problems
• Problem solving is dependent not only on the persons cognitive level, but also on the context and complexity of the problem

Question 3

Piaget learning

Answer 3

Infants learn mainly through instinctual interaction with the environment. They find schemas (concepts, behaviors, or sequence of events that are normal).

Question 4

Adaptation

Answer 4

New info must be put into a childs previous schemata about something. Comes by through assimilation and accommodation

Question 5

Assimilation

Answer 5

Process of classifying new info into existing schemata. One way adaptation can occur.

Question 6

Accommodation

Answer 6

Process by which existing schemata are modified to encompass new info if new info doesnt fit the previous schemata. One way adaptation can occur.

Question 7

Sensorimotor stage of Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Answer 7

First stage; birth until 2 years old. Child learns to manipulate his or her environment to meet their physical needs. Stage ends with object permanence (objects continue to exist even when out of view) and representational thought (mentally represents external objects and events)

• Primary circular reactions begin: repetition of a body movement that originally occured by chance, but the child finds soothing (sucking thumb)
• Secondary circular reactions begin: Manipulation is focused on something outside the body (throwing toys)

Question 8

Preoperational stage of Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Answer 8

Second stage; Ages 2-7. Characterized by symbolic thinking (imagination), egocentrism (cant imagine what another person can think or feel), and centration (focuses on only one aspect of a phenomenon; cant understand conservation)

Question 9

Concrete operational stage of Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Answer 9

Third stage; Ages 7-11. Understand conservation and perspectives of others. Cannot think abstractly.

Question 10

Formal operational stage of Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Answer 10

Fourth stage; age 11+. Ability to think logically about abstract ideas.