MCAT Psych #4 Flashcards
(211 cards)
study of congition
looks at how our brains process and react to the incredible information overload presented to us by the world.
dual coding theory
states that both verbal association and visual images are used to process and store information.
o Ex: word dad and picture of dad can recall the same information
the information processing model
o 1. Thinking requires sensation, encoding, and storage of stimuli
o 2. Stimuli must be analyzed by the brain (rather than responded to automatically) to be useful in decision making
o 3. Decisions made in one situation can be extrapolated and adjusted to help solve new problems (also called situational modification)
o 4. Problem solving is dependent not only on the person’s cognitive level, but also on the context and complexity of the problem.
cognitive development
the development of one’s ability to think and solve problems across the life span.
o Adolescent first focuses on mastering the physical environment and then turns to abstract thinking.
adolescent first focuses on mastering the _____ then turns to ______
physical environment
abstract thinking
Jean Piaget
one of the most influential figures in developmental psychology.
Divided the life span into four stages of cognitive development. Continuous passage through them with the completion of one stage preparing you for the next one.
schema
organized patterns of behavior or thought: a concept (what is a dog?), a behavior (what do you do when someone asks your name?), or a sequence of events (what do you normally do in a sit-down restaurant?)
• a schema describes a pattern of thought or behavior that organizes categories of information and the relationships among them
• new info has to be placed into the schema as a child ages
adaptation
the way new information is processed (2 parts)
• Assimilation: the process of classifying new information into existing schema
• Accommodation: the process by which existing schema are modified to encompass this new information.
assimilation
the process of classifying new information into existing schema
accommodation
the process by which existing schema are modified to encompass this new information.
What are Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development
- sensorimotor stage (birth-2 years)
- preoperational stage (2-7 years)
- concrete operational stage (7-11 years)
- formal operational stage (11 years)
Sensorimotor stage
Piaget
Manipulate environment to meet physical needs
Circular reactions (2):
• Primary circular reactions: the repetition of a body movement that originally occurred by chance, such as sucking the thumb (repeated cause the child finds it soothing)
• Secondary circular reactions: manipulation is focused on something outside the body, such as repeatedly throwing toys from high chair.
Object permanence (ends this stage): objects continue to exist even when out of view.
• Representational thought (marked by object permanence): the child has begun to create mental representations of external objects and events.
Preoperational stage
Piaget
Characterized by symbolic thinking, egocentrism, and centration.
Symbolic thinking: the ability to pretend, play make-believe, and have an imagination
Egocentrism: the inability to imagine what another person may think or feel
Centration: the tendency to focus on only one aspect of a phenomenon, or inability to understand the concept of conservation
• Ex: same pizza on two plates but one is cut in half, child will pick the two slices even though it is the same size.
Concrete operational stage
Piaget
Children can understand conservation and consider the perspectives of others.
Logical thought, not abstract thought
Formal operational stage
Piaget
Ability to think logically about abstract ideas.
Problem solve.
Piaget’s pendulum experiment helps separate the 3rd and 4th stages.
primary circular reactions
Piaget/Sensorimotor Stage
the repetition of a body movement that originally occurred by chance, such as sucking the thumb (repeated cause the child finds it soothing)
secondary circular reactions
Piaget/Sensorimotor Stage manipulation is focused on something outside the body, such as repeatedly throwing toys from high chair. Repeat it because of the response from the environment.
object permanence
Piaget/Sensorimotor Stage
(ends this stage): objects continue to exist even when out of view.
• Representational thought (marked by object permanence): the child has begun to create mental representations of external objects and events.
representational thought
thought (marked by object permanence): the child has begun to create mental representations of external objects and events.
symbolic thinking
Piaget/Preoperational Stage
the ability to pretend, play make-believe, and have an imagination
Egocentrism
Piaget/Preoperational Stage
the inability to imagine what another person may think or feel
centration
Piaget/Preoperational Stage
the tendency to focus on only one aspect of a phenomenon, or inability to understand the concept of conservation
• Ex: same pizza on two plates but one is cut in half, child will pick the two slices even though it is the same size.
how does culture effect cognitive development
o Determines what one is expected to learn and the rate of cognitive development
Lev Vygotsky
proposed that the engine driving cognitive development is the child’s internalization of his or her culture, including interpersonal and societal rules, symbols, and language.