Cognitive Psychology

Question 1

Gestalt Psychology rejected…

Answer 1

Bundle Hypothesis
(objects of consciousness are made up of fixed atomic elements)

Constancy Hypothesis
(conscious sensory objects responds to stimulation on a sensory organ)

Question 2

Name 2 of Gestalt’s principles:

Answer 2

Law of Phi and Beta (apparent motion)

Law of Pragnanz (we are driven to experience things in order/ simple fashion)

Question 3

What type of processing is suggested when processing perceptual stimuli?

Answer 3

Top-Down Processing

as our minds fill in black sections of a circle indicating we have background knowledge that influences how we perceive environmental info

Question 4

What did Chomsky argue against Skinner about language acquisition?

Answer 4

He argued that we acquire language through a device equipped with universal grammar
(not via operant conditioning)

Question 5

Weiner invented Cybernetics.
Explain this

Answer 5

Cybernetics are mathmatical tools used to describe systems of feedback, communication and control:

Negative feedback mechanisms (thermostat)

Important for info processing.

Question 6

What are the reasons Chomsky argued we acquire language differently rather than operant conditioning?

Answer 6

Flexibility of language means reducing it down to conditioning= little predictive value

Required a rule based, combinatorial system

Imitation is a poor basis for language –
children misapply abstract rules/ make mistakes

Innate contribution

Question 7

Miller’s Magic Seven argued we can hold ( ) pieces of information in our STM?

Answer 7

7 (+/- 2)

Question 8

What term is used to describe an increase in capacity from processing chunks of information?

Answer 8

Chunking

Question 9

The Cognitive Revolution:
Limitations

Answer 9

Not all behaviourists rejected cognitive processes
Behaviourism did change psychology
Behaviourism still exists

Maybe there is an evolution in psychology?