Psychology 404 Learning and Cognitive Processes

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Psychology 404Learning and Cognitive Processes

• David Allbritton

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Approaches to Learning

• Information Processing
• Mental processes and representations
• Associationist (Behaviorist)
• Connectionist
• Neuro-cognition
• Evolutionary Psychology

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Introduction to Cognitive (Information
Processing) Psychology

• Metaphors for the mind
• A brief historical perspective
• Influences on Cognitive Psychology

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Metaphors for the Mind

• Aristotles wax tablet (analog representation)
• Lockes chalkboard (passive learning)
• Telephones and radios (information theory)
• Computers (information processing theories)
• Networks (connectionism)

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A Brief History (1)

• Structuralism -- Wundt
• structure (representation)
• mentalism
• reductionism
• Criticized for
• restriction to low-level processes (ignoring much
  of thinking)
• static -- no interest in process

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A Brief History (2)

• 2. Functionalism William James
• function (process)
• high-level thought processes
• "Stream of consciousness"
• Criticized for
• lack of rigor

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A Brief History (3)

• 3. Behaviorism Watson, Skinner
• external stimuli and observable behavior (S-R)
• "black box" no mentalism
• methodological rigor
• associationist
• Criticized for
• ignored internal thought

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A Brief History (4)

• 4. The Cognitive Revolution (1960's)
• mentalism returns
• objective measures retained (RT, accuracy)
• mental representations and mental processes
  become the object of study

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Influences on Cognitive Psych

• Behaviorism
• Verbal Learning tradition (Ebbinghaus)
• Human factors (WWII)
• Information Theory (signal detection)
• Computer Science (hardware/software)
• Linguistics (rules and symbols)

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3 Assumptions of Cog. Psych

• Mental processes exist and can be studied
  scientifically.
• Humans are active seekers and processors of
  information.
• Reaction time and accuracy can be used to measure
  mental processes.