cognition 1

1. Cognitive Psychology
Principles

2. Learning Outcome
C1- Outline principles that define
the cognitive level of analysis.
Key Term:
Schema Theory

3. What is Cognitive Psychology?
Cognitive Psychology is the study of how
humans acquire, process and store information
from their environment.
 Study mental processes such as perception,
memory, learning, and language.
 Relatively young branch of psychology (1960’s).
 Neisser: “All processes by which the sensory input is
transformed, reduced, elaborated, stored, recovered,
and used. It is concerned with these processes even
when they operate in the absence of relevant
stimulation, as in images and hallucinations... Given
such a sweeping definition, it is apparent that
cognition is involved in everything a human being
might possibly do; that every psychological
phenomenon is a cognitive phenomenon."

4. If you are a Cognitive Psychologist
you believe…
1. Human Beings are information
processors and mental processes guide
behavior.
2. The mind can be studied scientifically.
3. Cognitive processes are influenced by
social and cultural factors.

5. 1. Human Beings are information
processors and mental processes
guide behavior.
 Humans gather information from our environments and
shape them into meaning. The way we percieve the world
impacts the way we behave in it.
 Connection between the brain and the mind.

6. 2. The mind can be studied
scientifically.
Cognitive Processes that we cannot see
(memory, perception) can be studied using the
scientific method.

7. 3. Cognitive processes are
influenced by social and cultural
factors.
The culture and society we are raised in
change the way we process, store, and
recall information.

8. Difference Between Cognitive and
Biological Psychology
Brain vs. Mind
Biology focuses on physical explanations of
behavior (reductionism)
Cognitive focuses on mental processing
(information processing)

9. Schema Theory
A mental representation of knowledge
stored in the brain. A Schema can be
seen as a network of knowledge,
beliefs, and expectations about
particular aspects of the world.
We see the world how we expect to
see it…