Unit 7: Cognition AP Psychology Essential Task 7-1: Define cognition and identify how the following interact to form our cognitive life: schemata/concepts, prototypes, assimilation, accommodation, effortful processing, and unconscious processing.  Logo Green is R=8 G=138 B=76 Blue is R= 0 G=110 B=184 Border Grey is R=74 G=69 B=64

Cognition We are here Unit 6: Algorithms Heuristics Biological Factors Representativeness Heuristic Compensatory Models We are here Problem Solving Techniques Decision Making Techniques Availability Heuristic Unit 6: Cognition Obstacles to Problem Solving Obstacles to Decision Making Biological Factors Acquisition and use of Language Memory Information Processing Model Encoding Storage Retrieval Cognitive Factors Cultural Factors

Essential Task 7-1: Cognition definition Outline Cognition definition Identify how the following interact to form our cognitive life: schemata/concepts prototypes Assimilation & Accommodation effortful processing & unconscious processing

Cognition Definition Cognition, or thinking, refers to a process that involves knowing, understanding, remembering, problem solving and communicating. Purposeful! OBJECTIVE 1| Define cognition.

Cognitive Psychology Cognition involves a number of mental activities, which are listed below. Concepts Problem solving Decision making Judgment formation Language Memory

Schema or Concept The mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people. There are a variety of chairs but their common features make up your CHAIR schema OBJECTIVE 2| Describe the roles of categories, hierarchies, definitions, and prototypes in concept formation.

Chair Schema Characteristics? Furniture Seat Four Legs Back Arms Sits one person Cushioned Made of wood

We organize concepts into category hierarchies. Courtesy of Christine Brune

Schemata Can Get Fuzzy Is a whale a mammal? Are penguins and kiwis birds? Are 17 year old people children or adults?

Can I Read Your Mind? State a color. Name or draw a triangle. List the first type of motor vehicle that comes to mind. Write a sentence. Give me a hero. Describe a heroic act. Game. Philosopher. Writer. Pop Star.

I gave schemata and tried to predict prototypes… red or blue a picture of an equilateral triangle a car a short declarative statement, e.g., “The boy is home.” Superman, Batman, or possibly a fireman a single act by a male, e.g. a rescue by a fireman Monopoly or some other board game Socrates or Aristotle Stephen King, or some other white male author Spears or Taylor Swift

Prototypes A prototype is the BEST example or cognitive representation of something within a certain schema or concept. Schema List characteristics that make a place a college or university. Prototype Now list a specific college that BEST represents or embodies those characteristics.

Categories Once we place an item in a category, our memory shifts toward the category prototype.

Schema Developmental Psychologist Jean Piaget believed that children develop and modify schema by two processes: Assimilation Accommodation

Assimilation Assimilation incorporates new experiences into existing mental structures and behaviors Example: a toddler who has a chocolate lab at home would also incorporate dalmatians into her schema of dog. Assimilation lays the foundation for accomodation

Accommodation Accommodation occurs when a child’s theories are modified based on an experience Example- The baby with a theory of dogs is surprised the first time she sees a cat- it resembles a dog, but meows instead of barks and rubs up against her rather thank licking The baby must REVISE her previous theory to include this new kind of animal

Why is this Process Important? As adaptation continues, the child organizes his/her schemata into more complex mental representations, linking one schema with another.