Title: 3A.

0: Introduction to cognition Date: 05/05/2023

LI: Cognitive approach to understanding behaviour.

Starter tasks:

Explain how the brain is

similar to a computer.

Key terms: Cognition, Attention, decision making, problem solving, Language,

Memory, Perception and thinking
 • 3A.0: Introduction to psychology
• 3A.1: Key concepts in processing information
• 3A.2: Multi-store model of memory
What • 3A.3: Working model of memory
• 3A.4: Schema
you need • 3A.5: Thinking and decision making

to know •
•
3A.6: Models of thinking and decision making
3A.7: intuitive thinking

in this •
•
3A.8: Rational thinking
3A.9: Studies

unit? Note: We will not teach all of these topics in

order, we will bounce around different units.
 Cognitive Processing:
Introduction to Cognition
-Define ‘cognition’.
-Outline the assumptions of the Cognitive Approach.
-Explain examples of cognitive processing.
 Definition of cognition
Task: write your own definition of cognition (use the images from the
start to help).
Oxford Dictionary (2020): “The mental action or process of acquiring
knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the
senses.”
The following slides identify
the six assumptions of the
Cognitive Approach in
psychology.
 Attention
- Decision making
Problem solving
- Language
- Memory
- Perception
- Thinking
We are information
processors
Cognitive processes should
be studied scientifically
 Humans prefer not to think!

We are cognitive misers (we seek the

fastest way to solve cognitive
problems and issues).
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 Cognitive shortcuts have their
advantages….but not alwats
Pros:
• Can process information quickly
• Make quick decisions
• Reduce mental effort (brain uses less energy)

Disadvantages:
• Can create biases e.g. everyone think of a
mechanic. What does he look like?
• Your emotions can effect your responses
• You accept the satisfactory solution (i.e. its just fine),
instead of the best solution.
• Error prone
Understanding cognition can help to explain...

- Emotion
- Memory
- Forgetting
- Perception
- Decision-making
- Thinking/thought processes
- Rationality
- Mental health (abnormal behaviour)
- Bias & stereotypes
- Any other behaviour that is related to thought
processes and/or thinking.
Is the
computer
analogy still
relevant in
the age of
increasing
knowledge in
cognitive
psychology?
 Question: What is introspections?
Use the image to help you write a description
Answer: the examination or observation of one's
own mental and emotional processes.
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920): Introspection
● First experimental psychologist.
● First psychology lab in 1879.
Let me
● Developed introspection. introspect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRE
KP9oijWI myself…
- Describe what the audio in this video
makes you think / feel.
- Describe what the audio in this video
makes you think / feel.
→ By analysing your introspection,
Wundt wanted to gain knowledge about
psychological processes such as
perception. Introspections definition: the
examination or observation of one's
own mental and emotional processes
It’s me,
Sigmund
Freud!
The role of the unconscious &
psychoanalysis
● The mind is mostly irrational
● Conscious: ‘tip of the iceberg’ – thoughts that we are
aware of.
● Preconscious: just bubbling under the surface –
thoughts and ideas we may become aware of during
dreams or through Freudian slips (parapraxis).
● Unconscious: most of our mind and majority of iceberg –
biological drives and instincts; disturbing repressed
memories.
● This can all be accessed through psychoanalysis &
dream interpretation.

Parapraxis defintion: parapraxis, is an error in speech,

memory, or physical action that occurs due to the interference
of an unconscious subdued wish or internal train of thought.
Classical examples involve slips of the tongue,
Behaviourism
BF Skinner argued that because the
mind was not observable, psychologists
should instead study behaviour.
The mind is a black box - we cannot
study what’s inside but can study
observable input and output objectively.
Organism’s behaviour are as a result of
complex history of how organism has
previously been interacted with by their
‘inputs’ - operant behaviour.
It’s hard to trace all of the previous
experiences, but perhaps we can learn
about them by shaping future ones...
Behaviourism
Operant conditioning can shape
behaviour.
- Positive reinforcement
- Negative reinforcement
- Punishment
Organisms can learn new
behaviours through trial and error.
However, is all behaviour learned
through trial and error?
Cognitive psychology
Black box is an important concept but needs
to be studied objectively using models.

Behaviour is not all a result of trial & error; it

can be latent, i.e. it only becomes obvious
that we have learned something at a later time
(Tolman).

Overarching computer metaphor - brain

hardware and mind software - together
receive, encode, store, process & exchange
info.

Models are tested using data from

experimental research in the lab and real life.
 Behavioural economics -
applied cognitive
psychology
Behavioral economics uses psychological
experimentation to develop theories about human
decision making.

Has identified a range of biases as a result of the

way people think and feel - deviations from
rationality & judgement (Tversky & Kahneman).

Trying to change the way economists think about

people's perceptions of value and expressed
preferences.
Behavioural economics: Restaurants
Many restaurants use behavioural economics to
influence how much we spend.

In pairs, imagine you owned a restaurant. What

changes would you make to ensure your
customers spent more money. Think about the
following:
 Menu design
 Shapes of the plates and cups/glasses
 Types of plates, cups/glasses, cutlery
 Plating of the food
 Note: You have to explain your reasoning.
Behavioural economics: Restaurants