PSYC 213 Midterm 1

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What did William James argue against in the study of the mind?

The importance of understanding the adaptive functions of the mind

The need for direct observation and fieldwork in studying the mind

The use of introspection to understand mental processes

The idea that consciousness cant be broken down into basic elements (correct)

What is the main difference between structuralism and functionalism?

Structuralism emphasizes breaking down the mind into basic elements, while functionalism focuses on the function of those elements (correct)

Structuralism is concerned with the adaptive functions of the mind, while functionalism is interested in the structure of the mind

Structuralism uses introspection, while functionalism relies on objective measures

Structuralism focuses on the 'why' of mental processes, while functionalism focuses on the 'what'

What is a criticism of structuralism?

It over-emphasizes the role of context in cognitive processes

It does not acknowledge the adaptive functions of the mind in daily life

It relies on subjective methods of introspection, which can be unreliable (correct)

It fails to adequately address the importance of individual differences in mental experiences

What is a key emphasis of functionalism?

The adaptive functions of the mind in different settings and scenarios (A) Signup and view all the answers

What did the rise of behaviourism as a school of thought focus on?

Observing and studying animal behaviour in controlled environments (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the independent variable in the lamp experiment?

Certainty of which lamp will light up (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why did early behaviourism favour animal research over human research?

They were interested in understanding the basic principles of learning in all living things. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between classical and operant conditioning?

Classical conditioning involves associating stimuli with natural responses, while operant conditioning involves associating behaviours with consequences. (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the experiment, how did the number of lamps affect the reaction time?

Reaction time increased as the number of lamps increased. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant limitation of using classical and operant conditioning to explain language acquisition?

It does not explain how children learn to apply language rules to new situations. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be drawn from the lamp experiment?

People are better at making decisions when there are fewer choices. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the main focus of Wilhelm Wundt's research?

To identify the basic building blocks of the mind, or conscious experience. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was Mary Whiton Calkins's main argument against behaviourism?

She believed that introspection, studying internal mental states, was essential for understanding complex behaviour. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of information overload?

Improved decision-making (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary factor that led to the cognitive revolution in Psychology?

The realization that behaviourism was unable to explain complex human behaviour. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which philosophical view emphasizes the role of innate knowledge in shaping our thoughts and understanding?

Rationalism (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary methodology used in Structuralism to study conscious experience?

Introspection or self-report (C) Signup and view all the answers

What did the cognitive revolution in Psychology accept that behaviourism did not?

The existence of internal mental states that influence behaviour. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'decision fatigue'?

Having a limited cognitive capacity for decision making (D) Signup and view all the answers

What could be a possible explanation for the difficulty of choosing a movie on Netflix?

The vast number of movies available (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Eastern philosophy as outlined in the content?

Focus on reducing processes to their most basic level (C) Signup and view all the answers

How did the cognitive revolution advance psychological research?

By adapting the scientific method to study internal mental states (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is the primary difference between Western science and Eastern science?

Western science prioritizes reductionism and analysis, while Eastern science emphasizes holism and context. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What principle helps explain the relationship between information processing and decision-making?

Hick's Law (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which philosophical view claims that knowledge derives from experience and perception?

Empiricism (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of Aristotle's philosophical approach influenced later cognitive theories?

His theory of forming associations through observation. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the transition from Behaviorism to Cognitive Psychology?

From focusing solely on observable behavior to acknowledging the role of mental processes. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Rationalism and Empiricism as philosophical perspectives?

Rationalism emphasizes innate knowledge, while Empiricism emphasizes knowledge derived from experience. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is one way to reduce decision fatigue?

Making big decisions in the morning (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an experiment that lacks ecological validity?

A study examining how people remember a list of unrelated words in a laboratory setting (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main assumption behind cognitive research?

Information processing is a fundamental aspect of human cognition (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of cognitive research?

To understand the computational processes involved in information processing (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and computational modelling?

They represent different approaches to understanding cognition, each offering unique perspectives. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the study examining the effects of music genre on student grades, what is the independent variable (IV)?

Music genre (Country or Rap) (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential control variable in the study of music and student grades?

All of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does a researcher typically test a hypothesis in cognitive psychology?

By analyzing the performance of participants on specific mental tasks and assessing how it changes across different conditions. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the dependent variable (DV) in the study examining the effects of psychotherapy type and duration on self-concept and memory?

Self-concept and memory (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cognition: History and Early Views

Cognition is the mental act of thinking and its effects on behavior and the brain.
Early views of cognition include the following:
- Basic and applied research
  - Basic research explores fundamental cognitive processes.
  - Applied research applies cognitive knowledge to real-world problems.
Key disciplines in cognition research include cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and computational modelling.

Experimental Approaches

Neuroscience: Explaining neuronal activity patterns using biologically plausible models. For example: How does memory work?
Cognitive Psychology: Explains behavior data, such as memory.
Computer Modeling: Models that perform complex cognitive tasks.

Experiments: Review

Experiments often test hypotheses by observing how people perform on mental tasks.
Independent variables are manipulated variables.
Dependent variables are measured variables.
Control or nuisance variables affect the IV-DV relation.

Independent and Dependent Variables

A study examined if listening to Country or Rap music helps students improve grades.
Possible variables to control for could include:
- Student study habits.
- Previous grades.
- Other music types listened to

Multiple Independent/Dependent Variables

How does the type and duration of psychotherapy affect self-concept?
Factors could include Cognitive and Somatic therapy, with durations of one week versus one month.

Today's Agenda

Historical approaches to studying cognition.
The development of cognitive psychology and early views (from ancient Greece- present-day).
Information processing view.
Ecological validity.

Historical Approaches

Philosophical foundations from Ancient Greece.
Early days of psychology as an experimental science (Structuralism and Functionalism).
Behaviorism.
Cognitive Psychology.

Philosophical Foundations of Cognitive Psychology

Ancient Greek philosophers examined the mind, sensations, memory, and human personality.
Key figures such as Aristotle and Plato.

Plato's View

First philosopher to consider consciousness and the mind.
Thoughts are based on prior knowledge and logic.
Knowledge is fundamental and reflects reality.

Aristotle's View

Combined philosophical and scientific approaches.
Knowledge arises from experience and perception. Individuals are born without prior knowledge.
Thought is based on forming associations from observations.

Link Between Philosophy and Cognition

Studying philosophy involves questions about how and why we think.
Studying cognition gathers evidence to answer those questions.
Eastern philosophy emphasizes that everything and the mind are impermanent and part of a greater universe.
Western philosophy analyzes and reduces phenomena to their basic elements.

Scientific Cultural Differences

Western science uses methods and experiences to reduce processes to their most basic levels for analytic understanding.
Eastern science considers context and more holistic understanding than simply breaking down.

Early Days of Experimental Psychology (1800s)

Structuralism (Wilhelm Wundt):
- Identifies basic building blocks of complex thoughts and conscious experience.
- Uses introspection (self-observation) as methodology.
- Reductionist view (breaking down mental actions into simple pieces).
Functionalism (William James):
- Focused on WHY the mind works.
- Explores adaptive functioning of the mind based on goals and context.
- Examines the usefulness of knowledge.

Wilhelm Wundt

Founded the first formal psychology laboratory.
Practiced structuralism:
- Aim to identify the simplest units of the mind.
- Thought certain laws combined these units to develop thoughts and memories.
- Used introspection to understand the mind’s inner workings.
- Goal was to identify the simplest units of the mind.

Wundt's Empirical Introspection

Used experimental self-report or observation on conscious experiences regarding simple stimuli (sounds, colors).
Used mental chronometry to measure the time for simple stimulus/perception.

Summarizing Structuralism

Systematic observation of the elements of the mind to understand cognition: perception, memory, and learning.
Simplistic, subjective introspection is one criticism.

Functionalism

Explains why the mind works. Examines adaptive functions in cognitive processes with goals and context.

Psychology as a Science: Behaviorism (1900s)

Shift from studying the mind to behavior.
Focuses on observable behavior, input, and output and avoiding mental processes.
Focused primarily on animal research though highly controlled experiments.

Notable Contributions (Behaviorism)

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)
Instrumental/Operant Learning (Thorndike and Skinner):
- Actions based on contingencies (schedules of reinforcement).
- Rewards encourage behaviors.
- Punishments reduce behaviors.

Problems with Behaviorism

Too simple to accurately explain complex human behavior.
Assumption that learning is similar in all individuals and species.

Mary Whiton Calkins

First female president of the American Psychological Association.
Operated a psychology lab at Wellesley College.
Stated opposition to eliminating introspection to study complex human behavior such as imagination and judgment.

Behaviorism's Limitations- Language

Language learning through conditioning is not fully supported by the evidence of latent learning.
Children follow rules for language development, even with no prior experiences.

The Cognitive Revolution (1950s)

Acknowledged internal mental states.
Used scientific methods (like behaviorism).
Driven by technology and viewed the mind as an information processor – like a computer.

Information Processing View

The mind is a computer, which performs computations on external information for behavior.
- Information is systematically processed by processing systems.
- The systems change information systematically.
- Information processing takes time.
- The information processing capacity is limited.

Information Processing Illustrated

Diagram shows the flow of information through primary and secondary memory.
Illustrates information processing through stages with systematic changes and time limitations.

Why We Process Information

Humans strive to reduce uncertainty about the information they receive.
The amount of processing is dependent on the degree of uncertainty.

Early Experiment on Information Processing: William Hick (1952)

Determined the relationship of choice reactions to processing time and the amount of information in events.
Used a behavioral experiment with lamps to measure lights and reaction times.

Hick's Law

The more information (uncertainty), the longer it takes to make decisions.

Information Processing Limits: Choice Overload Bias

Increased number of choices impacts information processing.
Leads to overwhelmed feelings and poor choices.

Information Processing Limits: Decision Fatigue

Limited capacity to make decisions throughout the day.
Impulsivity and less rational choices because of decision fatigue.

Reduce Decision Fatigue

Scheduling big decisions for the morning.
Developing daily routines.

Ecological Validity

The extent findings can be generalized to real-life settings.
Concern about computer experiments reflecting real-world settings.

Ecological Validity- Traditional Lab Approaches

Traditional laboratory approaches control for confounding variables that do not appreciate the complexity of cognition.
Examples include highly controlled stimuli like remembering lists of unrelated words.

Summary

History of studying cognition – from ancient Greece to Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism, and Cognition.
Cognition research assumes information processing.
Goal is to understand the computations in information processing.
Must be mindful of ecological validity.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the key concepts and debates in psychology, particularly focusing on the differences between structuralism and functionalism. Understand the criticisms of both schools, how behaviourism emerged, and the significance of experimental research on learning. This quiz will test your knowledge of foundational psychological theories and their implications.