Psychology

• Question 5: Brief Explanation [2 Marks] - Inference

  Suggested Answer: Because cognitive psychologists are unable to directly observe mental processes (e.g. memory, perception, etc.) they study cognitive processes indirectly by making inferences. An inference is where a psychologist makes a reasoned conclusion about mental processes based on observable behaviour. Such inferences allow cognitive psychologists to generate theories and models, for example, the multi-store model of memory, which is a theoretical model which is an inferred representation of human memory. 
• Working Memory Model


  A model of short-term memory that sees it as an active processor rather than a passive store
• Candidates may refer to the original 1974 version of the model, later additions, or may include the episodic buffer which was added in 2000
• Likely strengths of the Working Memory Model

  • Research support such as dual task studies and physiological evidence from brain scans
  • Comparison with the MSM (Multi-Store Model) and suggestion that WMM gives a better account of STM
• Likely weaknesses of the Working Memory Model

  • Little is known about how the central executive works
  • Evidence from brain studies suggesting the central executive is not unitary
  • The link between WM and LTM is not fully explained
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses of the Working Memory Model

  1. 1 mark for identification

  2. 1 further mark for accurate elaboration
• Central executive

  • Has a supervisory function and controls the slave systems
  • Has limited capacity but can process information from any sensory modality
• Phonological loop


  A limited capacity, temporary storage system for holding verbal information in a speech based form
• Visuo-spatial sketchpad

  A limited capacity, temporary memory system for holding visual and spatial information
• Within each component, award a maximum of 1 mark for simply naming 1 or more parts
• Cognitive Interview

  • Reinstating the context
  • Report everything
  • Changing order
  • Changing perspective
  • Features to facilitate recall (focus on social interaction, reducing anxiety/distractions, slow speech, use of open-ended questions)
• Simply listing aspects of the cognitive interview, maximum 2 marks
• Bryan is able to dual-task

  Because driving is an 'automated' task for him, it makes fewer attentional demands on his central executive so he is free to perform other tasks
• Bob is unable to dual-task

  He requires all of his attentional capacity for driving
• Identifying components of working memory active in verbal and visual tasks

  1. 1 mark for accurate identification of at least two components

  2. 1 mark for a very brief or muddled explanation

  3. Up to 2 further marks for an accurate explanation
• Verbal tasks

  • Learning/repeating words
  • Speaking
  • Reading
• Visual tasks

  • Forming an image and answering questions about it
  • Mentally counting windows
  • Watching DVD
  • Reading
• Psychological research on working memory

  • Theory and/or evidence
  • The working memory model proposed by Baddeley and Hitch in 1970s as an updated version of STM
  • WM is understood as an active processor
  • Components and their functions and properties
  • Concurrent/dual task studies
  • Articulatory suppression studies
  • Brain imaging research
  • Clinical evidence of selective impairments to STM
• Ethical issues in relation to studies would not normally be relevant as they do not affect the understanding of working memory
• Factors affecting attraction


  • Women value males with reproductive potential
• Baby face hypothesis


  Proposed by Cunningham
• Difference between choosy men and choosy women

  Shown by Clark and Hatfield
• The evolutionary hypothesis has a gender bias
• Women choose creative men due to adaptive value


  Shown by Nettle and Clegg
• Physical attractiveness


  Important in a relationship
• Murnstein (1972)


  People tend to form relationships with others who are equivalent in their physical attractiveness
• People who don't match on physical attractiveness may be trading tougher assets e.g. wealth, status, sense of humor
• Kenrick experiment


  1. Random numbers - tried to go for highest number, some people went for the same number

  2. Own preferences - they subconsciously went for similar physical attractiveness
• Matching hypothesis


  We are more likely to be attracted to people who are of similar physical attractiveness to ourselves
• Dion et al (1972) - the halo effect


  'What is beautiful is good'
• We equate physical attractive people with having positive attributes such as kind, strong, sociable, successful
• This means that we will behave more positively towards them, creating self-fulfilling prophecy
• What makes a beautiful face

  • High cheekbones
  • Fuller lips
  • Big eyes
  • Perfectly symmetrical face
• 46% of people find a beautiful face attractive
• 32.8% of people find a beautiful face attractive
• Social penetration theory


  Theory about self-disclosure in relationships
• Self-disclosure


  • Has 2 aspects - breadth and depth
• Start of relationship


  Low risk, superficial information
• Breadth is restricted at first


  As depth increases so can breadth
• Stage 1 - orientation


  1. Small talk - superficial things

  2. Helps to get to know someone