Chapter 4: The Cognitive Approach I Flashcards
Did cognitive psychology views support the behaviorist movement?
Not at all. We can characterize cognitive psychology as a counter-revolution against the behaviorist movement.
What are the main three reasons for the rapid growth of cognitive psychology?
- Failure of behaviorism to explain language acquisition
- New measuring devices that can examine mental activity
- Rise of the computer
What does Chomsky think about language acquisition?
There must be an innate mechanism for generating language that is not under environmental control
How did the rise of the computers inspire psychologists back then?
The computer-mind metaphor was born. Mind was then seen, like a computer, as an information processor.
What is Cognitive Psychology?
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.
Which two assumptions do process models carry?
- they’re sequential (information is processed before it becomes output to the next stage)
- processing on each stage is independent from processing that occurs in other stages (excluding inputs and outputs)
What is the Modularity of Mind assumption?
Mind is made up of innate, functionally independent modules
What is the current thinking about modules of the brain?
The brain may contain a number of processing structures that are modular, but these may be result of normal developmental processes.
What is perception?
Perception is the process by which we gather information from the outside world via the senses and interpret that information
What is pattern recognition?
The ability to identify objects in the environment
What are two main pattern recognition theories?
Template Matching Theory, Feature Detection Theory (Pandemonium)
How is Attention defined?
Attention is concentrated mental activity
What are the two sets of opposing characteristics of attention?
Selective but Divisible, Shiftable but Sustainable
What do we mean by Selective Attention?
Attention can be focused onto one source of information and away from another
What do we mean by Divisible Attention?
Attention can be split or divided among several alternative information sources
What is the con of divided attention?
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)
What is Shiftability in Attention?
Attention can be repeatedly shifted among different sources (either voluntarily or involuntarily)
What is Sustainability in Attention?
Attention can be focused exclusively on one source and sustained in this way over time
What do Bottleneck theories suggest about Attention?
Information is selected for processing as the rest get discarded (selective attention)
What do Capacity theories suggest about Attention?
Attention as a limited resource must be spread around different informational sources (divided attention)
What is Broadbent’s filter model?
Information arrives in sensory memory, a filter is applied to this information and selects certain portions of it.
What is Broadbent’s filter model based on?
Physical characteristics of the stimulus (location, pitch and loudness)
What is the cocktail party effect?
Some information (mostly of great personal relevance) gets through the unattended channel
How is Attenuation theory different from Filter Theory?
Instead of completely blocking information from the unattended channel, the filter attenuates or weakens it.
What is a Threshold according to Treisman?
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.
What is the Multimode Model of Attention?
According to Multimode Model of Attention, selection can be based on multiple modes (for example physical or semantic)
What level of arousal (physiological activation) is assumed to produce the greatest amount of available attention capacity?
Moderate level of arousal
What is Enduring Disposition in attention?
An automatic influence on where attention gets directed
What is Momentary Intention in attention?
A conscious decision to pay attention to something
