7.1 What Is Cognition — Your Brain Runs on Autopilot — Here's How | Psychology 2e
After this lesson you will be able to…
- Learn what cognition is and how the brain processes vast amounts of sensory and emotional data.
- Understand how the brain uses unconscious processing and cognitive ease to save energy.
- Discover how the brain uses "concepts" as mental files to organize information efficiently.
- Learn how prototypes serve as definitive reference points for quickly identifying concepts.
- Explore natural concepts, which are formed organically through direct or indirect experiences.
- Learn about artificial concepts, which are rigidly defined by specific, unchangeable rules and characteristics.
- Discover schemas, mental constructs that cluster related concepts to enable lightning-speed cognitive processing.
- Understand role schemas, which are automatic assumptions about individuals based on their social roles.
- Learn about event schemas (cognitive scripts), routine sets of behaviors for specific physical environments.
- Examine how deeply ingrained cognitive scripts, like texting while driving, can bypass conscious thought and lead to harmful behaviors.
- Understand that awareness of cognitive architecture is the first step towards breaking bad habits and gaining agency.
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(0)How does your brain transform a tornado of raw sensory input into organized, actionable thoughts — often without your conscious awareness? This lesson...
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Quiz: Cognition, Concepts, and Cognitive Scripts
FundamentalsAnswer each question based on what was presented in the video lesson on cognition and mental architecture. No outside knowledge is needed — all answers can be found in the video.
Practice: Cognition, Concepts, and Cognitive Scripts
PracticeAnswer each question using what you learned in the video lesson. Questions progress from recall and understanding to applied analysis — read carefully and support your answers with specific terms and examples from the lesson.