Psychology Fundamentals

Attention

• Definition: The selective focus on certain stimuli or tasks while ignoring others.
• Types of attention:
  • Sustained attention: Maintaining focus over a long period.
  • Selective attention: Focusing on specific stimuli or tasks.
  • Alternating attention: Switching between different tasks or stimuli.
  • Divided attention: Processing multiple sources of information simultaneously.
• Theories of attention:
  • Filter model: Information is filtered out based on relevance.
  • Bottleneck model: Information is processed in a serial manner.
  • Capacity model: Attention is limited by processing capacity.

Memory

• Types of memory:
  • Sensory memory: Brief storage of sensory information.
  • Short-term memory: Limited capacity, information is lost unless rehearsed.
  • Long-term memory: Permanent storage of information.
• Memory processes:
  • Encoding: Information is processed and stored.
  • Storage: Information is retained.
  • Retrieval: Information is accessed from storage.
• Memory models:
  • Atkinson-Shiffrin model: Information flows from sensory memory to short-term memory to long-term memory.
  • Levels of processing model: Information is processed at different levels (shallow or deep).

Perception

• Definition: The process of interpreting and understanding sensory information.
• Perceptual processes:
  • Sensation: The detection of sensory stimuli.
  • Perception: The interpretation of sensory information.
• Theories of perception:
  • Bottom-up processing: Perception is driven by sensory information.
  • Top-down processing: Perception is influenced by prior knowledge and expectations.
• Perceptual biases:
  • Contextual influence: Perception is influenced by surrounding context.
  • Expectation: Perception is influenced by prior expectations.

Learning

• Types of learning:
  • Classical conditioning: Associating stimuli with responses.
  • Operant conditioning: Learning through consequences of behavior.
  • Social learning: Learning through observation and imitation.
• Learning theories:
  • Behavioral learning theory: Focus on observable behavior.
  • Cognitive learning theory: Focus on mental processes and representations.
• Factors influencing learning:
  • Motivation: Desire to learn.
  • Reinforcement: Consequences of behavior.

Language Processing

• Language comprehension:
  • Phonology: Processing of speech sounds.
  • Syntax: Processing of sentence structure.
  • Semantics: Processing of meaning.
• Language production:
  • Speech planning: Generating speech.
  • Speech execution: Articulating speech.
• Theories of language processing:
  • Serial processing: Language is processed in a sequential manner.
  • Parallel processing: Language is processed simultaneously.
• Language development:
  • Language acquisition device: Innate ability to learn language.
  • Interactionist approach: Language development is influenced by environment and interaction.