Cognitive Processes I

(B.A. (Hons) Applied Psychology)

Module I Introduction: Lecture 1 Aspects of Psychology

Dr. Ben Wright Assistant Professor

Contact Details
Telephone: 9871124442 Email: bwright@amity.edu

Course Content I
Each week you will receive two lectures and one workshop You are expected to attend 100% of all sessions on time The lectures will be as follows: Module I Introduction: Lecture 1 Aspects of Psychology Lecture 2 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology Module II Memory: Lecture 1 Introduction to Memory Processes Lecture 2a Short-Term Memory I Lecture 2b Short-Term Memory II Lecture 3a Long-Term Memory I Lecture 3b Long-Term Memory II Lecture 4 Everyday Memory

Course Content II
Module III Learning: Lecture 1 Classical Conditioning & Extinction Lecture 2 Higher Order Classical Conditioning Lecture 3 Criticism of Classical Conditioning Lecture 4 Operant Conditioning Lecture 5 Advanced Conditioning Lecture 6 Cognitive Learning, Observation and Insight Module IV Perception: Lecture 1 Introduction to Visual Perception Lecture 2 Visual Depth and Movement Lecture 3 Advanced Visual Perception Lecture 4 Auditory Perception

Course Content III

Lecture 5 Olfactory Perception Lecture 6 Influential Factors & Extra Sensory Perception In workshops you will receive exercises related to lectures You are expected to keep a record of your work on exercises There will also be time in workshops to discuss any concerns

Course Assessment
70% Examination 15% 2,500 Word Essay 10% Workshop Assignments 5% Attendance For the essay you are expected to show evidence of reading Higher marks awarded for essays based on journal articles We will discuss the referencing format for essays in a workshop Possible essay titles: - Describe the relation between neural processes and cognition - What is the importance of free recall to the memory debate? - Discuss how vision can be affected in a medical condition

What is Psychology?
Definitions: What is Psychology? 1. The science of mind and behaviour 2. The branch of metaphysics that studies the soul, the mind and the relationship of life and mind to the functions of the body 3. The mental or behavioural characteristics typical of an individual or group or a particular form of behaviour 4. Influencing or intended to influence the mind or emotions What is a Psychologist? 1. A person trained and educated to perform psychological research, testing and therapy

Psychology as a Science I
Science involves: - Empirical enquiry: External observation open to others - A particular language for the field (including methodology) - Various assumptions about the nature of reality - A common sense approach - Creativity and a certain aesthetic - Limited Objectives and techniques: - Description - Prediction - Explanation

Psychology as a Science II
In the 1920s Logical Positivism was concerned with the scientific status of statements Statements were considered meaningful insofar as verifiable: - Empirical statements: Science theories (experiment; evidence) - Analytic statements: True or false by definition

Karl Popper argued that no amount of confirmation can achieve certainty for some statements Therefore, scientists should not seek to confirm but to falsify

Psychology as a Science III

Thomas Kuhn emphasised historical development and community structures Paradigm refers to the entire constellation of beliefs, values and techniques shared by a given community Crisis occurs when new discoveries cannot be incorporated A scientific revolution is marked by a radical new organisation

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