Basic Cognitive Process

The Emergence of Modern Cognitive Psychology

• When was this new approach actually ‘‘born’’?

• The birth of cognitive psychology can be listed as 1956.

• Influential books and articles on attention, memory, language,

concept formation, and problem solving.

• The growing support for the cognitive approach has sometimes been
called the ‘‘cognitive revolution’’
Factors Contributing to the Rise of Cognitive
Psychology
• Disappointment with behaviorism's dominance in psychology.

• Shift from animal learning to human memory research (Baddeley et al., 2009;
Bower, 2008).

• Difficulty explaining complex human behavior with behaviorist concepts (G.

Mandler, 2002; Neisser, 1967).

• Behaviorism lacks insight into thoughts, strategies, and problem-solving

(Bechtel et al., 1998).
Linguistics and Language Complexity

• New linguistics developments challenged behaviorism (Bargh &

Ferguson, 2000; Bower, 2008).

• Noam Chomsky emphasized language complexity (Chomsky, 1957).

• Humans possess innate ability for language (Chomsky, 2004).

• Contradiction to behaviorist view on language acquisition.

Human Memory Research

• Growing disillusionment with behaviorism.

• Memory research expanded in late 1950s.

• Memory models revealed alterations due to prior knowledge (Bargh

& Ferguson, 2000).

• Behaviorism's reinforcement principles insufficient.

 Children's Thought Processes and
Developmental Psychology

• Jean Piaget's impact on developmental psychology.

• Active exploration by children to understand concepts.

• Changing cognitive strategies during maturity.

• Piaget's influence on shaping psychological perspectives.

Cognitive Approach's Dominance

• Research in linguistics, memory, and developmental psychology

fueled cognitive growth.

• By mid-1970s, cognitive psychology replaced behaviorism as

dominant theory (Robins et al., 1999).
Information-Processing Approach

• Enthusiasm for information-processing approach.

• Focus on cognitive processes as information processing.

• Strengthened understanding of human cognition.

• Cognitive psychology emerged due to limitations of behaviorism.

• Research in linguistics, memory, and developmental psychology

propelled its growth.

• Information-processing approach further solidified cognitive

psychology's prominence.
 This information-processing
approach argued
(a) our mental processes are similar to the operations of a computer,

(b) information progresses through our cognitive system in a series of

stages, one step at a time (reconsider this comparison between mental
processes and computers).
The Information-Processing Approach
The Atkinson-Shiffrin Model of Memory
• Introduction to the Atkinson-Shiffrin information-processing model of
memory.
• Explanation of the model's stages: sensory memory, short-term
(working) memory, and long-term memory.
Sensory Memory

• Description of sensory memory's function: storing information for a

brief period (2 seconds or less).

• Example of auditory memory in action.

• Mention of the transient nature of sensory memory.

Short-Term (Working) Memory
• Explanation of short-term memory as actively used information.
• Mention of its fragility and the possibility of loss within about 30
seconds.
• Transition from sensory to short-term memory.
Long-Term Memory
• Introduction to long-term memory's capacity and permanence.
• Contrast with working memory's limited capacity and temporary
nature.
• Mention of long-term memory's storage of memories from various
timeframes.
Application of the Model
• Illustration of how the model applies to current tasks.
• Explanation of how external input progresses through sensory, short-
term, and long-term memory.
• Challenge: Asking the audience to recall specific details from the
presented information.
Model's Influence and Critiques
• Discussion of the Atkinson-Shiffrin model's dominance in memory
research.
• Mention of diminished influence due to evolving perspectives.
• Questioning the clear distinction between short-term and long-term
memory.
Reevaluation of Memory
• Overview of dividing memory topics for convenience.
• Introduction of "working memory" as a more current term.
• Mention of upcoming chapters exploring various aspects of long-term
memory.
Overview
• Recap of key points discussed about the Atkinson-Shiffrin model.
• Acknowledgment of evolving views on memory.
• Emphasis on the complexity of memory processes.