Chapter 4: The Cognitive Approach I

Question 1

Did cognitive psychology views support the behaviorist movement?

Answer 1

Not at all. We can characterize cognitive psychology as a counter-revolution against the behaviorist movement.

Question 2

What are the main three reasons for the rapid growth of cognitive psychology?

Answer 2

1. Failure of behaviorism to explain language acquisition
2. New measuring devices that can examine mental activity
3. Rise of the computer

Question 3

What does Chomsky think about language acquisition?

Answer 3

There must be an innate mechanism for generating language that is not under environmental control

Question 4

How did the rise of the computers inspire psychologists back then?

Answer 4

The computer-mind metaphor was born. Mind was then seen, like a computer, as an information processor.

Question 5

What is Cognitive Psychology?

Answer 5

Cognitive Psychology is the study of knowledge representation and use in human beings. It is concerned with understanding how people represent, process and store information.

Question 6

Which two assumptions do process models carry?

Answer 6

1. they’re sequential (information is processed before it becomes output to the next stage)
2. processing on each stage is independent from processing that occurs in other stages (excluding inputs and outputs)

Question 7

What is the Modularity of Mind assumption?

Answer 7

Mind is made up of innate, functionally independent modules

Question 8

What is the current thinking about modules of the brain?

Answer 8

The brain may contain a number of processing structures that are modular, but these may be result of normal developmental processes.

Question 9

What is perception?

Answer 9

Perception is the process by which we gather information from the outside world via the senses and interpret that information

Question 10

What is pattern recognition?

Answer 10

The ability to identify objects in the environment

Question 11

What are two main pattern recognition theories?

Answer 11

Template Matching Theory, Feature Detection Theory (Pandemonium)

Question 12

How is Attention defined?

Answer 12

Attention is concentrated mental activity

Question 13

What are the two sets of opposing characteristics of attention?

Answer 13

Selective but Divisible, Shiftable but Sustainable

Question 14

What do we mean by Selective Attention?

Answer 14

Attention can be focused onto one source of information and away from another

Question 15

What do we mean by Divisible Attention?

Answer 15

Attention can be split or divided among several alternative information sources

Question 16

What is the con of divided attention?

Answer 16

The greater the number of sources among which attention is divided, the less attention there is to devote to a single source. (Performance is reduced)

Question 17

What is Shiftability in Attention?

Answer 17

Attention can be repeatedly shifted among different sources (either voluntarily or involuntarily)

Question 18

What is Sustainability in Attention?

Answer 18

Attention can be focused exclusively on one source and sustained in this way over time

Question 19

What do Bottleneck theories suggest about Attention?

Answer 19

Information is selected for processing as the rest get discarded (selective attention)

Question 20

What do Capacity theories suggest about Attention?

Answer 20

Attention as a limited resource must be spread around different informational sources (divided attention)

Question 21

What is Broadbent’s filter model?

Answer 21

Information arrives in sensory memory, a filter is applied to this information and selects certain portions of it.

Question 22

What is Broadbent’s filter model based on?

Answer 22

Physical characteristics of the stimulus (location, pitch and loudness)

Question 23

What is the cocktail party effect?

Answer 23

Some information (mostly of great personal relevance) gets through the unattended channel

Question 24

How is Attenuation theory different from Filter Theory?

Answer 24

Instead of completely blocking information from the unattended channel, the filter attenuates or weakens it.

Question 25

What is a Threshold according to Treisman?

Answer 25

A threshold is the minimum amount of activation required to produce conscious awareness of a stimulus. The lower the threshold, the easiest for a stimulus to make it into awareness.

Question 26

What is the Multimode Model of Attention?

Answer 26

According to Multimode Model of Attention, selection can be based on multiple modes (for example physical or semantic)

Question 27

What level of arousal (physiological activation) is assumed to produce the greatest amount of available attention capacity?

Answer 27

Moderate level of arousal

Question 28

What is Enduring Disposition in attention?

Answer 28

An automatic influence on where attention gets directed

Question 29

What is Momentary Intention in attention?

Answer 29

A conscious decision to pay attention to something