Cognitive Assumptions

Question 1

Internal Mental Processes

Answer 1

Essential cognitive processes help make sense of our environment

Perception (Notice Dog), Attention (Pay attention to features e.g. tail), Memory (Search memory to find match to something seen before, Language (Use language to name dog)

Work together to allow us to respond to world around us

Introspection used to measure

Question 2

Computer Analogy

Answer 2

Compares human mind to computer

Take In Info (Input) , Store It (Process) ,
Recall It (Output)

During this, cognitive processes actively used (Perception, Attention, Memeory, Language)

Because of that, Mind = Hardware
Cognitive Processes = Software

Example of this approach = Multistore Memory Model (Info input into brain through senses, moves to short term mem, then long term mem)

Question 3

Schemas

Answer 3

Organised packets of info stored in long term mem

Derived from past experience, built up through interaction (via people + env)

Don’t always represent reality e.g. burglar schema = man in balaclava

*Example from psych = War of Ghosts study (schemas allow to fill in info from pre-existing beliefs)