Chapter 1 PowerPoint

Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

• Cognitive Psychology: Focuses on how we understand and study the mind through various cognitive processes.

Chapter Overview

Icebreaker Activity

• Discussion on cognitive processes involved in everyday actions (taking a seat in class, reading a textbook).

Chapter Objectives

• 01.01: Define "mind" in cognitive psychology.

• 01.02: Describe early methodologies from Wundt, James, Donders, Ebbinghaus.

• 01.03: Contrast Watson and Skinner's behaviorism with Tolman's cognitive approach.

• 01.04: Identify significant historical events leading to the cognitive revolution in the 1950s and 1960s.

• 01.05: Explain the evolution of cognitive psychology since its inception.

Key Questions

• Relevance of cognitive psychology in daily experiences.

• Practical applications of cognitive psychology.

• Methods of studying mental processes without direct observation.

• Overview of the cognitive revolution.

Complexity of Cognition (1)

• Cognition includes processes such as:

  • Perception

  • Attention

  • Memory

  • Problem solving

  • Decision making

  • Language understanding and production.

• Involves "hidden" processes that may not always be evident.

Complexity of Cognition (2)

• Cognitive Psychology: The scientific study of the mind's processes altering perceptions, memories, and behaviors.

Thinking About the Mind

• Characteristics of the mind:

  • Involves memory formation and recall.

  • Problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.

  • Symbolizes creativity and intelligence.

  • Constructs representations of the world for navigation in real-life settings.

Early Work in Cognitive Psychology

Donders Experiment (1868)

• Measured decision-making time through Reaction Time (RT) experiments:

  • Simple RT Task: Fast button press upon light appearance.

  • Choice RT Task: Choice of button based on light's position.

Donders’s Study of Reaction Time

• Choice RT - Simple RT = Decision-making time inferred to be about 1/10th of a second.

• Highlights the indirect measurement of mental responses via behavior observation.

Wundt: Structuralism and Sensations

• Wilhelm Wundt (1879): Established the first psychology lab.

• Developed Structuralism: Asserting that experiences are built from basic elements called sensations.

• Utilized analytic introspection: Participants described experiences in response to controlled stimuli.

Ebbinghaus: Memory and Forgetting

Experiment Findings

• Ebbinghaus (1885/1913): Studied memory retention using nonsense syllables.

• Savings measurement: Difference between original learning time and relearning time post-break.

• Results indicated that shorter intervals between study sessions lead to faster relearning.

Memory Curve

• The savings curve reflects the relationship between retention interval and memory retention.

William James’s Principles of Psychology

• William James: Pioneer in American psychology, focused on the function of the mind.

• Discussed cognition topics like memory, perception, attention, and reasoning based on introspective observations.

Breakout Groups Activity

• Students grouped to discuss unique approaches of selected psychologists (Wundt, James, Donders, Ebbinghaus).

Watson and Behaviorism

• John Watson: Criticized analytic introspection for its variability and unverifiability.

• Proposed Behaviorism: Focus solely on observable behavior, excluding the mind as a study subject.

Watson’s “Little Albert” Experiment

• Experiment by Watson and Rayner (1920): Demonstrated classical conditioning by pairing a rat with a loud noise, leading to Albert's fear.

• Showcased behavior analysis without mental reference.

Classical Conditioning

• The experiment exemplified classical conditioning principles derived from Pavlov’s research with dogs.

Skinner: Conditioning and Behaviorism

• B.F. Skinner: Investigated stimulus-response relationships through operant conditioning.

  • Discussed reward and punishment effects on repeated behaviors.

• Behaviorism dominance from the 1940s to the 1960s.

The Decline of Behaviorism

Language Acquisition Debate

• Skinner (1957): Suggested language is learned via operant conditioning through imitation.

• Chomsky (1959): Challenged this view, arguing that children speak in ways not solely attributable to imitation or reinforcement, suggesting an innate language acquisition mechanism.

The Rebirth of the Study of the Mind

Scientific Paradigms

• Thomas Kuhn: Scientific revolutions arise from paradigm shifts in thinking.

Digital Computer Influence

• Shifted from behaviorist approaches to cognitive approaches, proposing information processing models to reflect mental operations.

Attention and Information Processing

• Cherry (1953): Highlighted selective attention; subjects understood one auditory message while filtering out another.

• Broadbent's (1958) Flow Diagram: Visual representation of attention directing processes filtering out unattended information.

The Cognitive Revolution

• Timeline detailing the decline of behaviorism and rise of information processing approaches.

Artificial Intelligence

• Definition: Creating machines to perform tasks perceived as intelligent when done by humans.

• Newell and Simon: Developed logic theorist program demonstrating machine intelligence through logic.

Self-Assessment and Reflection Activities

• Reflect on key takeaways, muddiest points, and cognitive processes engaged during study.

Summary

• Review learning objectives:

  • Definition of the mind in cognitive psychology.

  • Early methodologies from key figures like Wundt and Ebbinghaus.

  • Comparison of the focus on observable behavior by Watson and Skinner versus Tolman’s cognitive mapping.

  • Historical milestones leading to the cognitive revolution.

  • Expansion and evolution of contemporary cognitive psychology.