Cognitive Approach

Question 1

key assumptions - cognitive

Answer 1

1. behaviour is a product of information processing
2. the brain can be compared to a computer (input, processing, output)

Question 2

types of memory

Answer 2

• sensory memory
• long term memory
• short term memory

Question 3

duration definition

Answer 3

length of time material can be kept in a memory store

Question 4

capacity definition

Answer 4

amount of material that can be kept in a memory store

Question 5

encoding definition

Answer 5

the process of converting information from one form to another

Question 6

sensory memory - duration

Answer 6

there is a separate memory for each of the senses. each one has a very short memory

Question 7

sensory memory - capacity

Answer 7

very high

Question 8

sensory memory - encoding

Answer 8

each sensory memory encodes in the appropriate way for the sense - visually for the visual memory

Question 9

short term memory - duration

Answer 9

temporary - around 30 secs (it can stay longer with maintenance rehearsal)

Question 10

short term memory - capacity

Answer 10

limited-capacity storage usually between 5 and 9 items on average

Question 11

short term memory - encoding

Answer 11

acoustic

Question 12

long term memory - duration

Answer 12

permanent/ lifelong

Question 13

long term memory - capacity

Answer 13

basically unlimited capacity

Question 14

long term memory - encoding

Answer 14

mostly semantic

Question 15

remembering

Answer 15

1. recall
2. recognition
3. cues

Question 16

free recall

Answer 16

this is when information is retrieved from one of our memory stores without any cues or help (eg. in an exam)

Question 17

cued recall

Answer 17

this is when information is retrieved from one of our memory stores with assistance. (eg. teacher hinting that it starts with a c)

Question 18

recognition definition

Answer 18

a form of memory retrieval where you identify something based on previous experience

Question 19

recognition

Answer 19

• like a multiple choice answer
• we can recognise the correct information from a selection presented to us

Question 20

cues definition

Answer 20

a trigger that allows us to access material in memory

Question 21

meaningful cues

Answer 21

acronym or mnemonic

Question 22

unmeaningful cues

Answer 22

if there is a power cut when you’re revising a certain piece of work then you’re likely to link further power cuts with that unit

Question 23

reconstructive memory

Answer 23

• every time we recall a memory, we also reconstruct it
• it’s linked to how humans organise, store and recall information

Question 24

schema

Answer 24

• mental frameworks of knowledge about specific things
• they change and develop as you grow and experience new things

Question 25

shortening - schema development

Answer 25

people tend to remember the general idea, so the key content is recalled and the rest forgotten

Question 26

rationalisation - schema development

Answer 26

because your recall is based on what you already know, any new information is distorted to fit your picture of ow the world works. so, you unconsciously change the new information in order to make sense of it

Question 27

confabulation - schema development

Answer 27

because you don’t recall every aspect of an event, you fill in the gaps using your existing schema. therefore, you might remember things that didn’t really happen. you merge your memory of the existing event with your existing schema

Question 28

priming

Answer 28

it’s what activates the relevant script. it can be positive or negative

Question 29

cognitive priming

Answer 29

we process a stimulus more quickly because we have encountered it before

Question 30

repetition priming

Answer 30

we process a stimulus more quickly because we encountered it earlier

Question 31

semantic priming

Answer 31

we process a stimulus more quickly because we earlier encountered a stimulus related to it in meaning

Question 32

associative priming

Answer 32

we process a stimulus more quickly because we earlier encountered a stimulus that is often paired with it

Question 33

cognitive script

Answer 33

schema for the actions required for routine behaviour

Question 34

memory scripts

Answer 34

knowledge of how a social situation should be/ what we can expect to happen in a situation (eg. restaurant, ordering food, eating the food…)

Question 35

person perception

Answer 35

information stored in memory about which personality characteristics often go together which guides our impressions of other people

Question 36

cognitive biases

Answer 36

errors in how we process information which affect our attention, memory and decision making

Question 37

fundamental attribution error

Answer 37

in explaining the reasons for other people’s behaviour, we focus on their personal characteristics and overlook the role of the situation

Question 38

confirmation bias

Answer 38

we pay more attention to information that supports our existing beliefs. we may seek it out and ignore contradictory information

Question 39

hostile attribution bias

Answer 39

a tendency to assume that someone else’s behaviour has an aggressive or antagonistic motive when it is actually neutral