Cognitive perspective Flashcards
What are cognitions according to cognitive theory?
pretty much every mental process.
how people perceive, think, remember, learn, solve problems and attention.
Explain Bandura’s observational learning/modelling.
A way of learning that differs from behaviorism, learning from observing others without rewards or punishment as reinforcement.
What is self efficacy according to Bandura?
The self-belief in ones own ability to achieve
What are the strengths and limits of the cognitive perspective compared to each of the other perspectives on personality?
The cognitive perspective is like looking into an infinitely complex engine and trying to figure out how it works while other perspectives are more about trying to figure out how the machine works by observing it.
in short. if cognitive psychology worked it would be dope, however since there are no good way to get a persons schemas noted down it has little to no value in predicting behavior
Describe information process during modelling, according to Bandura.
how does it work and what factors influence the learning?
According to Bandura, people do not mindlessly copy the behavior of others, but rather they decide consciously whether or not to perform a behavior that was learned by observation. Factors that influence whether the person will perform the learned behavior according to
Bandura include:
Aggressive behavior is likely to be replicated
Expected outcomes of the behavior. Individuals are more likely to replicate behavior that they believe will lead to positive outcomes
Characteristics of the person who is being observed as well as the behaviors themselves. If the “copied” person and/or their behavior is admired, their behavior is more likely to be copied.
What is personality, according to the cognitive perspective, that is, which dimensions of differences in behavior (or behavioral potential) between individuals does it postulate?
Personality is how we think about any situation we are in. its looking at the psychological situation where any person unique combination of potential behavior and values interact with the environment.
the dimensions are Self-schemas, Self-efficacy and locus of control
What are the functions of schemas?
Schemas determine a person’s expectations, inferences, and guide actions/behavior in different situations. This happens as we require simplification in our lives. Mental shortcuts help us navigate situations without having to expend an unreasonable amount of cognitive resources.
What problems might schemas incur?
Schemas might lead to stereotyping and prejudice. An individual might misinterpret situations that turn out to be different from what they expected.
How does a schema activate?
Schemas are in general a bunch of cognitive shortcuts that allow us to function even with all the impressions we are constantly bombarded with.
schema activates when we interact with any impression and “automatically” guides our understanding of it and helps our predictions from it.
How is learned helplessness induced?
describes what happens when an individual learns that she cannot control any of the things that are important: repeated exposure to unavoidable punishment leads an organism to accept later punishment even when it is avoidable. Depression, stress and apathy are commonly the consequences. There is evidence though that cognitive intervention - teaching people to change their thought processes can affect subsequent behavior. This cognitive intervention is called learned optimism.
in short, behaviorism external locus of control
How is learned optimism induced?
the term used by Martin Seligmamn to describe an optimistic style that people can be trained to achieve. This is the cognitive intervention that teaches people to change their thought processes. To be noted is that this aspect of personality is seen here as a kind of cognitive skill. Learned optimism is achieved by training people to think differently about themselves and the situation that arises in their lives, and to develop healthier responses that characterize people who have an optimistic style.
in short, behaviorism internal locus of control + cope
What are explanatory styles?
How we explain life events to ourselves
(optimism vs pessimism) (internal vs external locus of control)
What is the evidence that supports cognitive perspectives on personality?
More generally, what type of evidence is there and what personality dimensions does it support?
Learned helplessness: demonstrates how cognitive appraisals of control (or lack) influences resilience or passivity, linking to dimensions like optimism and neuroticism. Eg. animals and humans exposed to uncontrollable stress develop a sense of helplessness which aligns with pessimistic explanatory styles.
Self efficacy: studies show that beliefs about one’s capabilities predict persistence and success, supporting personality dimensions like conscientiousness and openness to experience.
Schemas: Transference experiment where traits of a known individual were predicted/attributed to an unknown person with a similar description.
