Copy of PSYCH 258 as off 11-27

Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

Learning Outcomes:

• Definition and scope of cognitive psychology

• Historical overview and philosophical approaches

• Factors leading to cognitive revolution/renaissance

• Application of the scientific method in cognitive psychology

• Relation of cognitive science to cognitive psychology

• Benefits of cognitive psychology in AI

• Common themes in cognitive psychology

What is Cognitive Psychology?

Cognition refers to the mental processes used in acquiring knowledge and understanding, derived from the Latin term "cognitio," meaning to learn or know.

Cognitive Psychology:

• Definition: Cognitive psychology emphasizes internal mental processes and posits that behavior cannot be fully understood without considering the underlying mental events, representations, beliefs, and intentions as highlighted by Reber & Reber (2001).

• Classic Definition: This perspective focuses on how sensory input is transformed through various processes, including reduction, elaboration, coding, and retrieval, as described by Neisser (1967).

• Information-Processing Definition: Behavioral responses are analyzed through experimental studies focusing on human information processing, based on assumptions about limited processing capacity, time taken for cognitive tasks, and the interdependence of different processing stages (Stillings et al., 1987).

Historical Background

• Ancient Greek Philosophers:

  • Plato: A rationalist, believed that knowledge is obtained through logical reasoning and innately present ideas.

  • Aristotle: An empiricist who argued that knowledge arises from experience and sensory perception.

• Renaissance Philosophers:

  • René Descartes: Introduced the concept of mind-body dualism encapsulated in the famous quote “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am).

  • John Locke: Proposed the theory of "tabula rasa," suggesting that individuals are born with a mind like a blank slate that is shaped by experiences.

  • Immanuel Kant: Attempted to reconcile rationalist and empiricist viewpoints, emphasizing the roles of both innate ideas and sensory experiences in the acquisition of knowledge.

• 19th Century Psychology:

  • Structuralism: Led by figures like Wundt, who used introspection to break down conscious experiences into their basic elements.

  • Functionalism: Addressed the purpose of mental processes and their adaptive significance, significantly contributed by William James.

  • Associationism: Focused on understanding how associations between concepts are formed, as investigated by F.C. Donders.

Psychoanalysis & Behaviorism

• Psychoanalysis: Developed by Sigmund Freud, emphasizing unconscious processes as central to human behavior and thought.

• Behaviorism: A movement that prioritized observable behavior as the subject matter of psychology, with prominent figures like J.B. Watson and B.F. Skinner steering the focus away from mental processes.

Cognitive Revolution

Key Contributors:

• Edward Tolman: Introduced the concept of cognitive maps, suggesting that organisms are active processors of information rather than passive responders.

• Karl Lashley: Challenged strict behaviorist views, especially regarding language, and laid groundwork for cognitive neuroscience.

• Noam Chomsky: Critiqued behaviorism through his theories of language acquisition, vociferously arguing for innate linguistic capabilities.

• Jean Piaget: Focused on cognitive development in children, presenting a stage-based understanding of cognitive maturation.

The Scientific Method in Cognitive Psychology

Goal: To describe, explain, predict, and control behavioral phenomena.

• Theory and Model: A scientific theory organizes known principles about the natural world, while a model is used to predict specific phenomena, such as those found in attention studies.

• Scientific Process Steps:

  1. Ask questions and make observations.

  2. Develop explanations or theories based on existing evidence.

  3. Generate hypotheses that can be tested.

  4. Design and conduct empirical studies using appropriate methodologies.

  5. Collect and analyze data to determine if they support or invalidate the hypotheses.

  6. Report findings to contribute to the scientific community and undergo peer review.

Cognitive Science

Cognitive psychology is part of an interdisciplinary field known as cognitive science, which blends elements of psychology, computer science, linguistics, anthropology, and philosophy to develop a comprehensive understanding of cognition.

• Tri-level Hypothesis (Marr, 1982): Provides a framework for understanding cognitive processes at three levels: 1) computational theory, 2) representation and algorithms, and 3) hardware implementation.

Cognitive Psychology & AI

Bridging cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence has facilitated advancements in understanding human cognition and developing intelligent systems. According to Reed (2019):

• Computational programs in AI serve as theoretical models for cognitive processes.

• Insights into pattern classification beneficial for cognitive psychology are shared in AI.

• Understanding human-AI interaction is crucial for developing effective cognitive models and applications.

Common Themes in Cognitive Psychology

Key themes in cognitive psychology include the following:

• Active and Constructive: Cognitive processes are not passive but actively involve the construction of understanding.

• Efficiency and Accuracy: Generally, cognitive processes are designed to be efficient and accurate, optimizing human performance.

• Interrelatedness of Processes: Different cognitive processes are interrelated, yet researchers often study them in isolation for clarity.

• Influences on Processing: Both bottom-up (data-driven) and top-down (concept-driven) processing influences cognition.

• Automatic Processing: Many cognitive processes can operate unconsciously, highlighting the complexity of human thought.

Conclusion

Cognitive psychology integrates knowledge from various disciplines, emphasizing the study of mental processes as crucial for understanding human behavior. The field is continuously evolving, driven by contributions from neuroscience and AI, creating insights that are increasingly relevant in both technology and everyday life.