psychology IB exam - cog approach

definitions

MSM

3 stores of memory that move in a linear motion

sensory memory: something that provokes one of the 5 memories and makes you notice it and give it attention then it goes to short term memory

short term memory: 7+-2 items can be stored for about 15-30 seconds then if it is rehearsed it is moved to long term memory

long term memory: can hold unlimited amount of items of memory and can be pulled back into your short term memory by recalling the memories

oversimplified and overemphasizes the role of rehearsal

serial position effect: recency effect

The tendency to remember the latest information presented in a sequence because it is still in short term memory. This phenomenon is particularly evident in lists and is part of the broader serial position effect.

serial position effect: primacy effect

The tendency to remember the first items presented in a sequence better than those in the middle, as these items are more likely to be transferred to long term memory because of rehearsal

WMM

A cognitive model explaining the structure and function of short-term memory and the parts that make it up

central executive: it is the boss that switches between the two different types of memory that allow for us to do things such as what we think is multitasking or technically lazily switch between two things

phonological loop: takes in auditory information and processes it

Visuospatial sketchpad: takes in visual information and processes it\

episodic buffer: a temporary store for the memory we are currently taking from our long-term memory. Integrates information from the phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and long-term memory before sending it to the central executive for processing.

schema theory

theory that we categorize/organize information into different groups to make it cognitively easier to understand and remember

a cluster of related pieces of information, knowledge or memory that are stored in the mind

cognitive schema

mental structures that an individual uses to organize knowledge and guide cognitive processes and behavior

dual processing model

there is two different systems helping you think all the time

system 1: your gut instinct, is the automatic thinking system that makes you jump to answers automatically, already exists, unconscious, instinctual, prone to error and biases

system 2: rational thinking, is more rational and slow where you actually have to think about it, takes effort, slow, logical, lazy (try to fall back to system 1), indecisive

rational thinking

thinking in a way that is reasonable and not crazy. Using reason to think of solution such as doing a word problem in math class. (system 2)

intuitive thinking

initial thoughts about something without putting deep thought into it. gut feeling or instinct (system 1)

cognitive miser

we all want to fall back to system 1 and not use as much energy usually unconscious but sometimes conscious

heuristics

mental shortcuts that can lead to biases

reconstructive memory

when reconstructing memories we are activating schemas that are relevant to an event. when remembering events memories can be reconstructed and falsely remembered

schemas: activating schemas that are relevant to an event as a “shortcut”

leveling: stories made simpler and shorter

sharpening: overemphasize small details

assimilating: change details and relate to different things

false memories

distorted recollection of an event

incorrect details and facts of a specific event

people are highly confident they are remembering the truth

biases

specifically cognitive biases are errors in thinking that occur due to influence from outside sources

representativeness bias

we judge the likelihood of something based on how similar it is to a prototype or stereotype, rather than considering actual probabilities or relevant information

emotion and cognition

emotions are complex reactions that involve feelings, physiological changes, and behaviors

The most significant effects of emotions are seen in memories 

Memories with strong emotional ties can become flash-bulb memories or they can be altered

leading questions or suggestions can alter the memories of people

• have to be very careful to fully trust eyewitness testimonies because the memories could be distorted with questions asked to the person speaking

  It suggests that emotional experiences can impact the recall of memories

  Emotions clearly plays a fundamental role in memory and also supports their cognitive approach to behavior because it shows a link between mental processes and emotional experiences

flashbulb memories

highly detailed and vivid snapshots of the moment and circumstances in which surprising and personally relevant news was heard

cognitive processing

how we obtain information, process it, organize it in our minds, store it and then use it make decisions and think

study: alter 2007

research method: experiment

ethical considerations: informed consent and deception

reliability of cognitive processes

there can be biases and how we recall our memories that effect the reliability of our cognitive processes that are involved in decision making and when someone asks you about something you need to recall and you make some things up that fit the story. This concept refers to the extent to which our memories can be trusted, as they may be influenced by various factors such as emotions, biases, and leading questions.

study: tversky and kahneman (hospital)

research method: experiment

ethical considerations: debriefing

emotion and cognition

emotions in memory can lead to distorted memories and inaccurate memory recollection. It also can result in strong recalls of memory.

study: neisser and harsch

research method: interviews

ethical consideration:  protection from harm