Psychology SL
Psychology SL
9
Chapters
238
Notes
Unit 1 - Research Methodology
Unit 1 - Research Methodology
Unit 2 - Biological Approach To Behaviour
Unit 2 - Biological Approach To Behaviour
Unit 3 - Cognitive Approach To Behaviour
Unit 3 - Cognitive Approach To Behaviour
Unit 4 - Sociocultural Approach To Behaviour
Unit 4 - Sociocultural Approach To Behaviour
Unit 6 - Health psychology
Unit 6 - Health psychology
Unit 7 - Pyschology Of Human Relationships
Unit 7 - Pyschology Of Human Relationships
Unit 8 - Developmental psychology
Unit 8 - Developmental psychology
Unit 9 - Internal Assessment
Unit 9 - Internal Assessment
Unit 10 - The IB Curriculum - A Conceptual Model
Unit 10 - The IB Curriculum - A Conceptual Model
IB Resources
Unit 3 - Cognitive Approach To Behaviour
Psychology SL
Psychology SL

Unit 3 - Cognitive Approach To Behaviour

The Flaw in the Computer Metaphor Understanding Human Irrationality

Word Count Emoji
462 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 14th Jun 2024

Table of content

The computer metaphor & its limitations

Imagine our brain as a super-duper computer: it takes in information, processes it, and spits out a decision. Easy-peasy, right? Well, this is what we call the computer metaphor for the human mind.

 

But hold on a second! This metaphor has a BIG flaw. It assumes we are perfectly rational, always processing information logically and accurately. But we humans, as you probably know, can be wildly irrational sometimes.

 

Real-World Example It's like using a computer to write your English essay. The computer can spellcheck, sure, but it can't understand the deeper meanings behind words like humans can. So, you might end up with a technically perfect essay that doesn't really make sense or is dull as dishwater. The computer lacks our human quirks and nuances, just like the computer metaphor lacks understanding of our irrationality.

Enter freud and cognitive biases

A guy named Freud disagreed with the computer metaphor. He knew our minds were a messy mix of rational and irrational.

 

In 1972, two psychologists named Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman introduced cognitive biases. Think of these as the "bugs in our system" - systematic ways we diverge from being rational. They found these "bugs" aren't occasional blips but happen all the time.

 

Real-World Example Ever thought you're more likely to win the lottery than to get struck by lightning? That's a cognitive bias! We tend to overestimate small probabilities and underestimate large ones. And guess what? Insurance companies LOVE this bias, because they can use it to sell you more insurance.

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IB Resources
Unit 3 - Cognitive Approach To Behaviour
Psychology SL
Psychology SL

Unit 3 - Cognitive Approach To Behaviour

The Flaw in the Computer Metaphor Understanding Human Irrationality

Word Count Emoji
462 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 14th Jun 2024

Table of content

The computer metaphor & its limitations

Imagine our brain as a super-duper computer: it takes in information, processes it, and spits out a decision. Easy-peasy, right? Well, this is what we call the computer metaphor for the human mind.

 

But hold on a second! This metaphor has a BIG flaw. It assumes we are perfectly rational, always processing information logically and accurately. But we humans, as you probably know, can be wildly irrational sometimes.

 

Real-World Example It's like using a computer to write your English essay. The computer can spellcheck, sure, but it can't understand the deeper meanings behind words like humans can. So, you might end up with a technically perfect essay that doesn't really make sense or is dull as dishwater. The computer lacks our human quirks and nuances, just like the computer metaphor lacks understanding of our irrationality.

Enter freud and cognitive biases

A guy named Freud disagreed with the computer metaphor. He knew our minds were a messy mix of rational and irrational.

 

In 1972, two psychologists named Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman introduced cognitive biases. Think of these as the "bugs in our system" - systematic ways we diverge from being rational. They found these "bugs" aren't occasional blips but happen all the time.

 

Real-World Example Ever thought you're more likely to win the lottery than to get struck by lightning? That's a cognitive bias! We tend to overestimate small probabilities and underestimate large ones. And guess what? Insurance companies LOVE this bias, because they can use it to sell you more insurance.

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Psychology SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟