psychology 2

• the cognitive process the ability to interpret and manipulate mental ideas and images in order to obtain information, to reason, to solve problems
• concepts


  • To categorize objects, events, people with common characteristics to classify items more generally
  • Allows humans to reason and solve problems
• types of reasoning

  • Deductive reasoning: applies general assumptions to specific cases, MORE ACCURATE
  • inductive reasoning: applies specific information to form a general assumption.
  • For either forms of reasoning to be accurate, the initial premise must be correct
• left brain functions


  • Logic
  • math/science
  • Ordered sequencing
  • Rational thought
  • Verbal
  • Planning
  • Caution
  • Motor skills and field vision of the right side (opposite)
• right brain functions


  • Random sequencing
  • Emotional thought
  • Impulse
  • Creative writing/art
  • Imagination
  • Basically the fun epic side
  • Motor skills and field vision of the left side
• Sensation is information that we receive through our senses, such as sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch
• Perception is how we process the information we gain through our senses, which differs between individuals.
• The absolute threshold is defined as the lowest intensity of a stimulus that can be detected by us 50% of the time. Or, in simpler terms, how much of a stimuli must be present in order for it to be noticeable to our senses.
• The three functions the mind performs during the process of perception are selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory information.
• The three factors that influence our perception are the object itself, the background or surroundings, and the experiences and emotions of the person who is perceiving.
• conditioned learning is learning that occurs through association of a stimulus with a response
• classical conditioning is the process of learning to associate a stimulus with a response
• operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behaviour is reinforced or punished through consequences
• consequences can be either positive (adding a stimulus) or negative (removing stimulus).
• the four basic consequences are

  1. positive reinforcement
  2. negative reinforcement
  3. positive punishment
  4. negative punishment
• • Observational learning (4 major elements)
  • Attention - to learn through observation you must pay attention the the behaviour of others
  • Retention - you store a mental representation of what you observed in your memory. You note how the person performed the task, what worked well and what results produced the behaviour
  • reproduction - converting the stored memory into action, may need practice to do this effectively
  • Motivation - you must be motivated in order to practice the skill
• episodic memory is being able to recall personal experiences, events, and places that are stored in a personal time line
• semantic memory is the memory of facts and information, such as the names of people, places, and things, being able to understand the world
• procedural memory is the memory of how to execute certain actions, such as playing a sport.
• short term memory is the temporary store of information that is held for a few seconds to a few minutes
• levels of memory

  1. sensory memory
  2. short term memory
  3. long term memory
• • Sensory memory receives information from the environment through each of the five senses
  • It records information from these senses for only a few seconds and allows you to select what you think should be retained from all the sensory information you are receiving
• Short term memory can store about seven separate, unorganized items.
• long term memory is the memory of facts and information that has been stored for a long time
• long term memory has no limit on the amount of information that can be stored
• Deductive reasoning begins with a general principle and then applying it to a specific situation.
•  inductive reasoning begins first with a specific situation, from observations to conclusions.
• List and explain four strategies for solving problems. 

  Trial and error:

  • Trying out a variety of different approaches until finding one that works

  Hypothesis testing:

  • Testing a hypothesis and seeing how successful it is

  Rule of thumb:

  • Using a general rule based on past experience or acquired knowledge

  insight

  • Suddenly gaining understanding or forming a new idea