Cognitive Psychology Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of cognitive psychology?

  • The exploration of mental processes related to perception, thought, language, and memory. (correct)
  • The study of observable behaviors and their direct correlation with outside stimuli.
  • The understanding of unconscious motives and their influence on conscious behavior.
  • The analysis of emotional responses and their impact on physical actions.

    • How did John B. Watson's view contrast with the later re-emergence of cognitive psychology?

  • Watson and cognitive psychology both viewed the relationship between stimulus and response as direct and simple.
  • Watson focused on unobservable mental states, while cognitive psychology prioritized observable action.
  • Watson believed in studying directly observable phenomena, while cognitive psychology emphasized unseen knowledge processes. (correct)
  • Watson studied emotional responses; cognitive psychology studied cognitive processes, so there is not a contrast.

    • Which of the following is NOT identified as a factor contributing to the reemergence of cognitive psychology?

  • The development of new experimental methods
  • The rise of developmental psychology (correct)
  • The analogy of the mind as a computer processor
  • Dissatisfaction with behaviorism and the psychoanalytic view of the mind

    • According to cognitive psychology, what is the relationship between stimulus and response?

    <p>It is complex and mediated by various mental and knowledge processes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what decade did cognitive psychology re-emerge as a significant field of study?

    <p>1950s (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the provided information, which of these individuals is best known for their work on the development of thinking?

    <p>Jean Piaget (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does empirical evidence refer to within the context of cognitive psychology research?

    <p>Data collected through direct observation or experimentation that can be tested and verified (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the approach of cognitive psychology after its re-emergence?

    <p>An emphasis on the unseen knowledge processes and complex factors that mediate between stimulus and response. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a cognitive activity as defined in the text?

    <p>Problem solving (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the dual process theory, which of these characteristics best describes System 1 thinking?

    <p>Unconscious, quick, and uses shortcuts (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the provided information, what best describes System 2 thinking?

    <p>Intentional, calculated, and more accurate (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the concept of 'cognitive miser' primarily suggest about human problem-solving?

    <p>Humans tend to prefer simpler, less effortful methods due to cognitive limitations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a heuristic as it is used in the provided text?

    <p>A mental shortcut that allows quick decisions with minimal effort. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What best exemplifies the 'availability' type of heuristic?

    <p>Estimating the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples come to mind. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the provided information, what is a key difference between a heuristic and an algorithm?

    <p>Algorithms guarantee a solution, while heuristics do not. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a cognitive bias most accurately described as?

    <p>A systematic pattern of deviation from rationality where judgments are swayed by subjective factors. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best represents confirmation bias?

    <p>Seeking information that aligns with pre-existing beliefs, and ignoring contradictory information. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'outgroup homogeneity bias' refer to?

    <p>The perception that members of an outgroup are more similar to each other than members of an ingroup are (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might relying too heavily on cognitive biases be detrimental?

    <p>It can result in irrational or incorrect judgements. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does it mean to say that 'attention is a finite resource'?

    <p>The brain has a limited capacity to focus on multiple things efficiently and thoroughly. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Under which situation would someone be likely to use 'System 2' thinking?

    <p>When it is an unfamiliar, consequential and cognitively manageable situation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these best describes the study of linguistics?

    <p>The study of the physical, structural, functional, psychological, and social characteristics of human language. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are 'language' and 'linguistics' related?

    <p>Linguistics is the scientific study of language. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary idea behind B.F. Skinner's theory of language acquisition?

    <p>Children learn language mainly through imitation and reinforcement. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Noam Chomsky, what is a main reason why children can't learn language solely through imitation?

    <p>Children exhibit overregularization, indicating that they are not simply mimicking adults. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'Language Acquisition Device' (LAD) refer to, as proposed by nativist theories?

    <p>An inherited capacity that includes innate knowledge for learning language. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an indication that a child's babbling is starting to resemble the language of their environment?

    <p>Babbling takes on a conversational tone and resembles the area's language. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes 'syntax' in the context of linguistics?

    <p>The rules and structures that govern word order and sentence construction. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'semantics' primarily focus on in the study of language?

    <p>The meanings of words, phrases, and sentences. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'extralinguistic information' refer to when discussing communication?

    <p>The non-verbal elements such as body language and tone of voice that accompany verbal communication. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the provided text, what is the 'balanced approach' to language acquisition comprised of?

    <p>The combination of biological factors and environmental experiences. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary obstacle that researchers encountered when attempting to teach language to animals like dolphins and parrots?

    <p>Absence of the necessary vocal apparatus for speech production. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes Washoe's achievement in the Gardner study?

    <p>Developed a vocabulary of approximately 160 words in American Sign Language. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Savage-Rumbaugh's research with the bonobo Kanzi differ from earlier research with chimpanzees?

    <p>Kanzi was trained using a lexigram with geometric symbols. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the main aspects that make human language unique?

    <p>Its complexity, structure, and ability to convey abstract ideas and emotions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what timeframe did language likely begin to evolve in humans according to the content?

    <p>Between 100,000 to 200,000 years ago in Homo sapiens. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which neurological development is most directly linked to the capacity for complex language processing?

    <p>Expansion of the neocortex, particularly in Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Anatomically, what evolutionary change enabled humans to produce varied and articulate speech?

    <p>The evolution of a lowered larynx and fine motor control of the oral structures. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did language likely contribute to the survival of early humans?

    <p>By facilitating communication, collaboration, and care for offspring. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Cognitive Psychology

    • Cognitive psychology explores mental processes related to perceiving, attending, thinking, language, and memory.
    • It aims to understand how these processes influence behavior and interact with each other.
    • It re-emerged in the 1950s, emphasizing unseen cognitive processes instead of solely observable behaviors.
    • The relationship between stimulus and response is complex and mediated, rather than simple and direct.
    • Dissatisfaction with behaviorism and psychoanalytic views, along with new experimental methods and the computer analogy of the mind, contributed to its re-emergence.

    Key Figures in Cognitive Psychology's Reemergence

    • Herbert Simon (1916-2001), economist and political scientist, pioneering AI and decision-making.
    • Jean Piaget (1896-1980), focused on the development of thinking.
    • Noam Chomsky (1928-Present), criticized behaviorism and emphasized language.

    Cognitive Psychology is Empirical

    • Empirical knowledge is based on observation, experience, or experiment, not theory.
    • Research uses empirical evidence - data collected through observation or experimentation, which can be tested and verified.

    Cognitive Science Spurred

    • This includes experimental cognitive psychology (e.g., memory, attention, problem-solving, linguistics).
    • The information-processing approach (e.g., artificial intelligence, computer simulations).
    • Cognitive neuroscience (e.g., normal brain functioning, effects of brain damage).

    Thinking

    • Thinking is any mental activity or information processing.
    • This encompasses learning, memory, perception, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.

    Information Processing

    • Theories on cognition reflect varying levels of information processing.
    • William James (1890) discussed associative and true reasoning as different cognitive levels.

    Dual Process Theory

    • Thinking comprises two systems:
      • System 1: Unconscious, quick, uses shortcuts, often relied upon but less precise.
      • System 2: Intentional, calculated, more accurate, requires effort, and is slower.

    Cognitive Misers

    • Due to limited cognitive resources (time, energy, mental resources), humans prefer less effortful problem-solving strategies over complex ones, regardless of intelligence level.

    Dual Process Theory and Cognitive Efficiency

    • System 1 (autopilot) comprises about 90% of thinking.
    • System 2 (deliberate) is high-effort thinking.

    Energy-Intensive Organ

    • The brain uses 20% of the body's resting energy despite being only 2% of its mass, primarily via glucose use.
    • Energy demands slightly increase during complex tasks.

    System 1 Thinking (3 Methods for Energy Conservation)

    • Heuristics: Mental shortcuts to make quick decisions with minimal effort (e.g., relying on brand recognition instead of analyzing all product options). Algorithms generate guaranteed solutions, but might be less efficient.
      • Heuristic Types:
        • Availability: Judging likelihoods based on how easily examples come to mind.
        • Representative: Judging categories based on similarity to a mental prototype.
    • Cognitive biases, systematic deviations from rationality in judgments and decisions due to subjective factors (expectations, emotions, motivations).

    Types of Cognitive Biases

    • Confirmation Bias: Seeking and focusing on information that confirms existing beliefs while dismissing contradictory information.
    • Hindsight Bias: Believing past events were more predictable than they actually were when they occurred.
    • Ingroup Bias: Favoring individuals who belong to the same group (ingroup).
    • Outgroup Homogeneity Bias: Perceiving less variance among individuals in out-groups compared to ingroups.

    Attention

    • Attention is a limited resource; the brain struggles to process multiple things thoroughly when attention is divided or overwhelmed.
    • Divided attention leads to biased judgments or incomplete thinking.
    • Examples like driving illustrate how attention focuses primarily on vital details, while ignoring others unconsciously.

    System 2 Thinking

    • Deliberate, conscious, and analytical thinking demanding effort and attention.
    • Switched when situations are unfamiliar, consequential, or cognitively manageable (low load).

    Uses of System 2 Thinking

    • Requires cognitive resources and control.
    • Involves breaking down problems, evaluating evidence, and reasoning logically.
    • Useful in critical thinking and managing cognitive biases.

    Linguistics

    • The scientific study of human language encompassing physical, structural, functional, psychological, and social aspects and characteristics.

    Language

    • A method of communication (spoken or written) using structured words to transmit information.

    Areas of Linguistic Interest

    • Neuroscience: Focus on the anatomy and functioning associated with language.
    • Clinical: The dominant words of individuals.
    • Culture: Similarities and differences in language across cultures, including regional differences.

    Language Acquisition

    • The process of learning language.
    • Empiricist Theories (B.F. Skinner): Language learned through imitation and reinforcement.
    • Nativist Theories (Noam Chomsky): Innate capacity (Language Acquisition Device, LAD) and overregularization support this approach.
    • Interactionist Theories: Language acquisition results from the interaction of innate capacities and experience.

    Critical Periods

    • Researchers study children with limited language exposure and bilinguals, which helps to understand language acquisition process timelines.

    Language Development

    • Infant vocalizations start similarly, evolving into babbling, phonemes, and morphemes.
    • By one year, first words emerge across cultures, with comprehension preceding production.
    • By age five, most individuals possess a vocabulary of around 1,000 words.

    Can Animals Develop Language?

    • Researchers attempted language teaching with various animals.
    • The main challenge faced by animals is a lack of vocal apparatus, which often leads to using sign language as a substitute.
    • Some animals (like Washoe) demonstrated learning specific words, but the ability to master syntax remained challenging.

    Conclusion/Summary of Language

    • Language is uniquely human, featuring complexity, structure, and conveying complex concepts, emotions, and ideas - this includes syntax and grammar, symbolization, and cultural transmission.

    Timeline of Language Development

    • Language evolved over a long period, estimated around 100,000 to 200,000 years ago in Homo sapiens.
    • Early communication forms gradually evolved into complex language systems.

    Neurological and Anatomical Evolution

    • Increased neocortex (especially Broca's and Wernicke's areas), enabled complex language processing.
    • Enhanced neural connectivity supported abstract thought, memory, and syntax.
    • Evolved vocal tract, including a lowered larynx and fine motor control of vocal organs, allows complex speech.

    Natural Selection

    • Language enhanced survival by aiding communication, collaboration, finding mates, caring for offspring, and outcompeting others.

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    Description

    Explore the foundations of cognitive psychology, including its focus on mental processes such as perception, thinking, and memory. Learn about key figures like Herbert Simon, Jean Piaget, and Noam Chomsky, and understand how the field re-emerged in the 1950s, challenging behaviorism. This quiz assesses your knowledge on the theories and applications of cognitive psychology.

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