Cognitive Approach

The way I think is the way I behave…

Focuses of Cognitive Approach

The PROCESSES of thinking and memory

Attention

Imagery

Creativity

Problem solving

Language use

Different from Learning approach (Behaviorists)

Concerned with mental processes

Concerned with what humans can perceive and communicate

Focused on the mind. Literature frequently refers to the BLACK BOX of mental processing (we can’t see mental processing…)

Use animals for MEMORY research

Big-deal Cognitive folks

Noam Chomsky –Theories of language acquisition

Norbert Wiener –computer simulations of thought… worked with cybernetics… tried to get computers to respond to different situations.

Wolfgang Kohler –Gestalt theory… our mind fills in the blanks of perception (see next slide)

Happy/Sad/Surprised/Angry/Disgusted/Fearful? Can You Tell ?

Gestalt Theory

Gestalt is a german word that means Pattern Shape Figure Form Whole

It is a theory that suggests we look at things as a whole… and we process information as a whole…

Gestalt Theory-everything is view in

context…

In learning, opposed to the reductionism of behaviourism, it concentrates on the way in which the mind insists on finding patterns in things, and how this contributes to learning, especially the development of “insight”.

Gestalt slides

A vase or two faces? According to the Gestalt theory, our mind can only see one image at a time.

Gestalt puzzle

To solve the puzzle, one must look at the whole

concept or image…

Closure is a big

gestalt concept

Mentally, we close

the pictures… how could

you interpret A,B,C,D?

How is thinking different from learning?

                                                               

                                                   

                                                       

                                                       

Thinking VS LearningThinking More complex than

learning Manipulates

representations of the environment

Applies perceptions, makes associations, furthers current cause

Stimulus-stimulus reactions

Learning Learning is stimulus-

response interactions.

Activity

Cognitive approach… Explain how it is different than the biological and behaviorist approachWhich approach appeals to you the most?ADHD: This is a life-long issue for some people. How does each approach treat ADHD?

Two types of thinkingNon-directed thinking Has no

destination Reverie Free association Mind-wandering fantasy

Directed thinking Aims toward a goal Problem solving Critical thinking Creativity Reasoning

Problem solvingConvergent thinking Searches for one solution

to a problem. Uses logic to find the ‘one

right answer’ like in math problems

Categorize events, and filter out the correct answer

Divergent thinking Used in playing chess

(several options must be considered…)

Imagines many solutions Creativity is often measured

by how many different solutions someone can come up with for a problem.