mental structure
that represents
something in the
world.
Human mind is compared to a computer
We take in information,
change/store it then recall
when necessary
Input,
process,
output
Multistore model of
memory
Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)
Info enters through
the senses, moves to
the STM, then the
LTM until it's needed
for recall
Attribution Theory
Real World Applications
Storms and Nisbett (1970)
Given a pill that would either
arouse or sedate. Those who
expected arousal attributed it to
the pill and went to sleep
We constantly attribute
behaviour, as we always look for
ways to explain people's
behaviour
Internal/Dispositional
We explain
behaviour in terms of
the person
External/Situational
We explain behaviour
through social norms or
luck.
Heider (1944)
Silent film of triangles. Asked P's to describe
what had happened, and think they were
humans, and they attributed personality traits
to inanimate objects
1958 - decided that
people are 'naive
scientists' trying to
understand people's
behaviour
FAE
We are more likely to attribute internally
Not always the case, in
COLLECTIVIST cultures, they
attribute externally, in
INDIVIDUALISTIC cultures (USA)
they tend to attribute internally
Fundamental
Attribution Error
Ross (1977) - quiz show. asked to attribute
the contestants on ability. P's knew questions
were made up but still rated contestants
highly
Covariation Model
Kelley (1967)
Covary: things
that tend to happen
simulateneously
Consistency
Behaving in
the same way
all the time.
Distinctiveness
Behaving
the same
to unique
stimuli
Consensus
Everyone
reacts the
same to stimuli
Internal
(HLL)
External
(HHH)
McArthur (1972)
12 P's were asked to
attribute sentences.
They followed the
model shown -->
However, people
often behave
irrationally and not
mechanistically
Errors and biases
Actor/Observer bias
Nisbett et al (1973
Asked P's to say why they
and a friend wanted to study
a course. P's attributed
externally, and attributed
their friend internally
Shows that we attribute
ourselves externally and
others internally
Self-serving bias
Jones et al (1968)
P's had to teach two pupils,
they attributed pupil
improvement internally, but
blamed their failure on the
pupils (externally)
We take credit for successes but disassociate
failure.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Weaknesses
Mechanist Approach
Portrays the mind as a
machine
Ignores social and
emotional factors
Reductionist as it simplifies our
behaviour
Our behaviour is far
more complexed than
a computer as we can
feel emotion etc
Irrational behaviour
Nature and
Nurture
Although it explains
behavior internally and
externally, it still doesn't
consider important
elements of
nature/nurture
The role of genes is
ignored, yet research into
intelligence usually looks
into genes
Social and cultural factors are ignored.
Piaget didn't consider
social and cultural
factors in
developmental
psychology
Strengths
Mediational Processes
Looks at the 'black box' and
focuses on important
processes