HPS203 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Working Memory, Immanuel Kant, Edward B. Titchener
HPS203 Week 1
Define Cognitive Psychology and list the cognitive processes included
Cognitive Psychology: the scientific study of the acquisition, retention, and use of
knowledge
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of introspection and behaviourism
Introspection
• William Wundt and Edward Bradford Titchener- main researchers
• ‘Introspect’- to look within
o To observe and record the content of our own mental lives and the sequence of
our own experiences
Behaviourism
• Uncovered a range of principles concerned with how behaviour changes in response to
various stimuli (including ‘rewards’ and ‘punishments’)
• John B Watson – prominent behaviourist, focused on learning and learning histories, was
intrigued by babies’ behaviour and learning e.g. grasp reflex
What did behaviourists measure?
Behaviour Observable in the right way- objective data
Stimuli Also measurable, recordable, physical
events- objective data
Learning history Stimuli experienced day after day and
behaviours produced each day can record
how pattern of behaviour changes with
passage of time and with accumulation of
experience
Advantages Disadvantages
Introspection We need to talk about the
mental world if we hope to
explain behaviour
Some thoughts are
unconscious- introspection
is the study of conscious
events and can tell us
nothing about unconscious
events
Testability of claims is often
unattainable with
introspection- not
acceptable for the purposes
of science
Behaviourism Measures behaviour and
stimuli- objective data
By late 1950s psychologists
were convinced that a lot of
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Document Summary
Define cognitive psychology and list the cognitive processes included. Cognitive psychology: the scientific study of the acquisition, retention, and use of knowledge. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of introspection and behaviourism. Introspection: william wundt and edward bradford titchener- main researchers, introspect"- to look within, to observe and record the content of our own mental lives and the sequence of our own experiences. Stimuli experienced day after day and behaviours produced each day can record how pattern of behaviour changes with passage of time and with accumulation of experience. We need to talk about the mental world if we hope to explain behaviour. Some thoughts are unconscious- introspection is the study of conscious events and can tell us nothing about unconscious events. Testability of claims is often unattainable with introspection- not acceptable for the purposes of science. By late 1950s psychologists were convinced that a lot of behaviours could not be explained in objective terms.
