History of Cognitive Psychology Flashcards
Francisus Donders
Studied reaction time
Reaction time formula
choice reaction time - simple reaction time = the time it takes for you to make a decision
Wilhelm Wundt
Studied from a structuralist point of view and seeked to create a “periodic table of mental processes”. He would teach subjects about these different mental processes and then present them with a situation and asked them to describe how it made them feel. They were often primed, so this did not work well.
Analytic introspection
How Wilhelm Wundt studied his subjects
William James
First to study psychology in the US and used functionalism. He often journaled and took note of his own feelings.
Functionalism
All mental processes exist to serve one function which defined them.
John B Watson
Criticized historical methods and argued that one can only study psychology through observable and measurable methods.
Behaviorism
Only observable date can be used
Black box theory
Our mind is a “black box”. We can never open it up and see inside what is really happening.
Black box formula
Stimulus (impout) –> mind (black box) –> behavior (output)
Cognitive maps BEHAVIORISM
Rats were rewarded with food when they turned right so now they will always turn right
Cognitive maps COGNITIVE
The rats have created a cognitive map so now they will navigate to where the food is located
Cognitive revolution
Seeks to explain behavior in terms of the mind. Marries behavioral and cognitive approaches; uses measurable and observational data, can make inferences about underlying cognition, consider what behavior says about how they mind works.
Computational approach
Traces the sequence of mental processes involved
Thanks to the cognitive revolution, we can assume…
Mental processes exist, mental processes can be studied, humans are information processors.