Cognitive Flashcards
Two assumptions ( cognitive )
- Behaviour is a product of information processing.
- The brain works like a computer.
What is Sensory Memory ( SM ) +
Duration :
Capacity:
Encoding:
Sensory memory stores each of our 5 senses.
Duration: very brief ( iconic <1/2 secs & echoic 2/4 secs )
Capacity: very high
Encoding: haptic, olfactory, iconic, echoic, gustatory .
What is Short-Term Memory ( STM ) +
Duration:
Capacity:
Encoding:
Short term memory is a limited capacity memory store.
Duration: short ( around 30 secs )
Capacity: limited ( 7 + 2 or 7 - 2 items )
Encoding: iconic and mainly echoic .
What is Long-Term Memory ( LTM ) +
Duration:
Capacity:
Encoding:
Long-term memory is permanent memory.
Duration: it can last a lifetime
Capacity: practically unlimited
Encoding: semantic
What is recognition ?
A form of memory retrieval where you identify something based on previous experience .
What is recall ?
It’s a form of remembering
What is a cue ?
Something that triggers your memory
What is reconstructive memory ?
Pieces of stored information are reassembled during recall. The process is guided by our schemas so that we produce a ‘memory’ that makes sense.
What is shortening?
When parts of a memory is left out, so that it remains shorter .
What is rationalisation?
When parts of a memory are distorted to fit your schema, to make your memory more meaningful.
What is confabulation?
When details are added to a memory to fill in the ‘gaps’ to make recall meaningful .
What is a schema ?
A mental package of beliefs and expectations that influence memory .
What is priming ?
Priming is a mental process in which a stimulus subconsciously triggers a cognitive reaction ( in form of memories, behaviours, schemas, or recognition )
What is repetition priming ?
When you encounter the prime, you process it more quickly when you see it or hear it again later than you otherwise would’ve done .
( gorilla video )
What is semantic priming ?
Semantic priming is when we process a stimulus more quickly because we earlier encountered a stimulus related to it in meaning .
( example: if you see or hear the word computer, it is easier to recognise or recall the word laptop later )
What is associative priming ?
Associative priming is when the prime and the later stimulus are related, but not semantically. If you are exposed to one, you are more likely to later recognise or recall the other.
( eg. Fish & chips are so often paired that they are closely associated in memory )
What are memory scripts ?
Knowledge of behaviours, roles, outcomes etc. stored in memory which tells us what to expect in a social situation and how to behave.
What is a person perception ?
When you meet someone, you immediately make assumptions about their character based on what you ‘see’ .
What are biases ?
Distorted ways of thinking which may lead to a preference to one thing
Fundamental Attribution Error ( FAE )
FAE is a cognitive bias that occurs when people overemphasize personal characteristics and downplay situational factors when explaining the behavior of others
For example, a teacher might believe a student is lazy for handing in an essay late, even though there could be many situational causes.
What is confirmation bias ?
We tend to favour information that supports beliefs we already hold
Hostile Attribution Bias ( HAB )
We may wrongly interpret other people’s behaviour as threatening ( hostile ) when in fact it is neutral.
What is duration, capacity and encoding ?
Duration: how long you hold the information
Capacity: how much information you can hold in your memory
Encoding: what coding do you use
What is haptic ?
Touch
