Psychology 2015A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Information Theory, Cognitive Psychology, Experimental Psychology

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2015A/B
• Professor: Patrick Brown

Document Summary

Folk psychology a term for various assumptions and theories based on the everyday behaviour of ourselves and others. Cognition the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and senses. The study of human cognition has advanced in 3 stages: Stage 1 (1950-1960) rapid progression propelled by the methods of traditional psychophysics (the scientific investigation of the relationship between sensation and stimulation) and experimental psychology. Stage 2 (mid 1970"s) fuelled by computational analysis and marked the arrival of cognitive science. Stage 3 (1980"s) used evidence from neuropsychology and animal neuropsychology, and imaging techniques that allow us to see the brain in action. The amount of information provided by a given event can be qualified in terms of bits (binary digits). Bits the most basic unit of information. Every situation with 2 equally likely outcomes provides one bit of information.