Cognitive Flashcards
Schema theory
Human beings organize information about the world by creating mental representations known as cognitive schemas
Schemas
Mental representation of knowledge, beliefs and expectations about the world
Long lasting
Deeply rooted
Difficult to change
Derived from previous experience
Thinking
Process of modifying and producing new information
Decision making
Selecting one of the possible beliefs or actions, making a choice between alternatives
Dual processing model
People use two systems when processing information and making decisions
System 1
Predominant
inuitive
Automatic
System 2
Rational
Controlled
Reliable
Heuristics
Are mental shortcuts taken by system 1 to help us make a decision
They save us mental energy, but they can lead to bias (cognitive distortions)
Availability heuristics
When people judge the likelyhood of an event based on how easily an example or event comes to mind
Anchoring effect
When values presented at the beginning (anchors) influence posterior judgements
Framing effect
When decisions are influenced by the way a problem is formulated
Representativeness heuristic
When people estimate the likelyhood of an event by comparing it to an existing prototype
Confirmation bias
The tendency to focus on, remember and believe information consistent with existing beliefs
Memory
Is a cognitive process used to encode, store and retrive information
Encoding
Information is perceived and converted to brain signals
Storage
Encoded information is retained in the brain’s memory stores
Retreival
Stored information is remembered and used
Sensory store
Perceives and hold information from the senses
Large capacity
Lasts 0.5-3s
Short term memory
stores memories for a short time, to be used imediatly
Long term memory
Stores stable, enduring memories
Episodic
Procedural
Semantic
Unlimited capacity and duration
Working memory model
How we hold and manipulate information from the short term memory store to carry out taks
Components of the working memory model
Central executive
Phonological loop
Visuospatial sketchpad
Episodic buffer
Central executive
Controls attention, during your focuse on different tasks
Phonological loop
Phonological store: stores auditory information
Articulatory loop: used when mentally repeating information to yourself, or when transforming stimuli into sound