Cognitive Psychology

Principles

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.

1. Human Beings are information

processors and mental processes

guide behavior.

Humans gather information from our environments and

shape them into meaning.

Connection between the brain and the mind.

2. The mind can be studied

scientifically. Processes that we cannot see (memory) can be studied

using the scientific method.

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.

Difference Between Cognitive and

Biological Psychology Brain vs. Mind

Biology focuses on physical explanations of behavior

(reductionism)

Cognitive focuses on mental processing (information

processing)

Exit Card What is the focus of cognitive psychology?

What is the goal of cognitive psychology?

Schema Theory Schema Theory: A mental representation of knowledge in the

brain.

A network of knowledge, beliefs, and expectations about

particular aspects of the world.

Schema Theory Largely automatic process that shapes our cognitive

processing…Perception

(How we interpret

Information)

Attention

(Focus on stimuli to interpret)

Memory

(Store and categorize

information)

Schema Theory Example:

Doggy!...?

Schema Theory Big Idea If information is incomplete, people use their schema theory

to fill in the blanks…

Interpret the world according to the things we know.

Ignore the information that violates our schema.