Cognitive Approach Flashcards
key assumptions - cognitive
- behaviour is a product of information processing
- the brain can be compared to a computer (input, processing, output)
types of memory
- sensory memory
- long term memory
- short term memory
duration definition
length of time material can be kept in a memory store
capacity definition
amount of material that can be kept in a memory store
encoding definition
the process of converting information from one form to another
sensory memory - duration
there is a separate memory for each of the senses. each one has a very short memory
sensory memory - capacity
very high
sensory memory - encoding
each sensory memory encodes in the appropriate way for the sense - visually for the visual memory
short term memory - duration
temporary - around 30 secs (it can stay longer with maintenance rehearsal)
short term memory - capacity
limited-capacity storage usually between 5 and 9 items on average
short term memory - encoding
acoustic
long term memory - duration
permanent/ lifelong
long term memory - capacity
basically unlimited capacity
long term memory - encoding
mostly semantic
remembering
- recall
- recognition
- cues
free recall
this is when information is retrieved from one of our memory stores without any cues or help (eg. in an exam)
cued recall
this is when information is retrieved from one of our memory stores with assistance. (eg. teacher hinting that it starts with a c)
recognition definition
a form of memory retrieval where you identify something based on previous experience
recognition
- like a multiple choice answer
- we can recognise the correct information from a selection presented to us
cues definition
a trigger that allows us to access material in memory
meaningful cues
acronym or mnemonic
unmeaningful cues
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
reconstructive memory
- every time we recall a memory, we also reconstruct it
- it’s linked to how humans organise, store and recall information
schema
- mental frameworks of knowledge about specific things
- they change and develop as you grow and experience new things
shortening - schema development
people tend to remember the general idea, so the key content is recalled and the rest forgotten
rationalisation - schema development
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
confabulation - schema development
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
priming
it’s what activates the relevant script. it can be positive or negative
cognitive priming
we process a stimulus more quickly because we have encountered it before
repetition priming
we process a stimulus more quickly because we encountered it earlier
semantic priming
we process a stimulus more quickly because we earlier encountered a stimulus related to it in meaning
associative priming
we process a stimulus more quickly because we earlier encountered a stimulus that is often paired with it
cognitive script
schema for the actions required for routine behaviour
memory scripts
knowledge of how a social situation should be/ what we can expect to happen in a situation (eg. restaurant, ordering food, eating the food…)
person perception
information stored in memory about which personality characteristics often go together which guides our impressions of other people
cognitive biases
errors in how we process information which affect our attention, memory and decision making
fundamental attribution error
in explaining the reasons for other people’s behaviour, we focus on their personal characteristics and overlook the role of the situation
confirmation bias
we pay more attention to information that supports our existing beliefs. we may seek it out and ignore contradictory information
hostile attribution bias
a tendency to assume that someone else’s behaviour has an aggressive or antagonistic motive when it is actually neutral
