Cognitive Psychology Introduction

Summary

This video series aims to demystify cognitive psychology, exploring how the brain acquires and applies knowledge to influence behavior. The instructor offers an informal platform to discuss the basics of this fascinating field, emphasizing its relevance across various careers. Cognitive processes, such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, are highlighted, showcasing their universality and importance in everyday life, from learning to social interactions and clinical treatments. The videos are structured to cover topics, syllabus material, and deeper questions, providing a comprehensive yet accessible learning experience.

Takeaways

• 📚 The instructor is uploading videos to help students understand cognitive psychology better, as an alternative to uploading slides to Blackboard.
• 👨‍🏫 The videos are not official university material but are created by the teacher to aid in student comprehension.
• 🧠 Cognitive psychology is defined as the study of how the brain acquires and uses knowledge to produce behavior.
• 🔍 The term 'cognition' originates from 'cognoscere' in Latin, meaning 'to know', emphasizing the acquisition and use of knowledge.
• 👀 Knowledge acquisition occurs through the senses, with cognitive processes selecting relevant information from sensory input.
• 🤔 Cognitive processes include the storage, retrieval, and manipulation of information to achieve goals or solve problems.
• 🎯 Examples of cognitive processes in action range from basic needs like hunger to complex skills like playing an instrument or winning at chess.
• 🌐 Cognition is relevant in today's world of big data and ubiquitous information, affecting various aspects of life and society.
• 🧐 Cognitive psychology is a dominant paradigm in psychology, with wide-reaching implications for various professions.
• 🧐 The field also investigates how cognitive processes can go wrong, especially in clinical populations and in compensating for sensory loss.
• 📈 The videos will cover general talks, syllabus material, experiments, and deeper questions from the syllabus, structured for student engagement.
• 🎥 The instructor encourages students to choose which sections to watch, aiming for the videos to be informative and enjoyable.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the speaker in creating these videos?

The speaker is creating these videos to help students understand the basics of cognitive psychology better, as an additional resource to the official university material.

Why does the speaker mention the issue with uploading slides to Blackboard?

The speaker mentions the issue to explain why they chose to upload videos instead of slides, as each teacher creates their own slides based on department templates.

What does the speaker mean by 'cognition' in the context of cognitive psychology?

In cognitive psychology, 'cognition' refers to the processes by which the brain acquires knowledge and uses it to produce behavior.

How does the speaker describe the acquisition of knowledge through our senses?

The speaker describes it as a process where our senses take in information, and cognitive processes select the relevant and interesting information from the continuous stream of sensations.

What is an example of cognitive processes in action according to the speaker?

An example given is experiencing hunger and deciding to eat something, which involves sensory experience as information and the goal of satisfying that hunger.

What does the speaker suggest about the ubiquity of cognitive processes in everyday life?

The speaker suggests that cognitive processes are everywhere, from learning to play an instrument to winning at chess, and even in treating patients or navigating a disaster site.

How does the speaker relate cognitive psychology to the field of big data?

The speaker relates cognitive psychology to big data by pointing out that in a world of abundant information, cognitive psychology is concerned with how this information is gained, attended to, stored, and manipulated.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of cognitive psychology in various careers?

The speaker believes that cognitive psychology is crucial in various careers, regardless of whether one wants to be a therapist, work in marketing, become a researcher, or a social worker.

What is the structure of the videos according to the speaker?

The structure of the videos includes a general talk on the topic, a review of material related to the syllabus and practical experiments, and an exploration of deeper questions at the end of each chapter.

How does the speaker encourage students to engage with the videos?

The speaker encourages students to decide which sections of the videos they want to watch, hoping that the videos will be informative and enjoyable.

What is the speaker's intention regarding the official status of these videos?

The speaker clarifies that these videos are not official university material but are created to supplement the students' understanding of cognitive psychology.