INFORMATION

PROCESSING THEORIES
AND BIO-CULTURAL
THEORIES
Presented by: Ver Aloysius O. Ricafort
Information Processing Theory
Information Processing
 Information Processing- The human mind’s activity of taking in,
storing, and using information.
 The whole system is guided by Control processes that determine how
and when information will flow through the system.
 Early information processing views of memory used the computer as
a model.
 Like the computer, the human mind takes in information, performs
operations on it to change its form and content, stores the information,
retrieves it when needed, and generates responses to it.
The memory process
3 step process…

1. Encoding: The processing of information into the memory

system.

2. Storage: The retention of encoded material overtime.

3. Retrieval: The process of getting the information out of

memory storage.
Sensory Memory
 Stimuli from the environment (sights, sounds,
smell, etc.) constantly bombard our body’s
mechanism for seeing, hearing, tasting,
smelling, and feeling.

 Sensory memory is the initial processing that transforms these

incoming stimuli into information so we can make sense of them.
Short Term AKA “Working” Memory

The stuff we encode from the sensory goes to STM>

Events are encoded visually, acoustically or semantically.

Holds about 7(plus or minus 2) items for about 20 seconds.

We recall digits better than letters.

Short Term AKA “Working” Memory

Short Term Memory, on the other hand, refers only to

the temporary storage of information in memory.

It just usually means storage, the immediate memory for

new information that can be held for 15-20 seconds.
Elements of Working Memory

1. Central Executive – that control attention and other

mental resources (the “worker” of working memory).

2. Phonological Loop – that holds verbal and acoustical

(sound) information.

3. Visuospatial Sketchpad – for visual and spatial

information.
Retaining Information

 Chunking – organizing items into familiar, manageable units.

 Maintenance Rehearsal involves repeating the information in

our mind (phone number or a location on a map).

 Elaborative Rehearsal involves connecting the information

you are trying to remember with something you already know, with
knowledge from long-term memory. (ex. You meet someone at a party
whose name is the same as your brother’s-you make the
ASSOCIATION).
Forgetting
 Information may be lost from working memory through:
a. Interference
b. Decay

Interference – processing new information interferes with old

information.

a.Retroactive: new information blocks out old information.

b. Proactive: old information blocks out new information.
Forgetting

Decay – the weakening and fading memory of with

the passage time.
Long Term Memory
 Unlimited storehouse of information.
 Permanent store of knowledge.

Contents of LT Memory:
1. Declarative knowledge
2. Procedural Knowledge
3. Conditional Knowledge
Contents of Long Term Memory

1. Declarative Knowledge – is knowledge that can be declared,

through words and symbol systems of all kinds
- verbal information; facts; “knowing that”
something is the case.

2. Procedural Knowledge – knowledge that is demonstrated when

we perform a task “knowing how”.
Contents of Long Term Memory

3. Conditional Knowledge – “knowing when and

why” to use declarative and procedural knowledge.
 Long Term Memory:
Explicit and Implicit

Explicit Memory Implicit Memory

Information that you have to (non-declarative) memories.
consciously work to remember.
 information that you
Long-term memories that remember unconsciously and
involve deliberate or conscious effortlessly
recall.
Explicit Memories

 Episodic memory: These are the your long-term memories of specific

events, such as what you did yesterday or your high school graduation.
(YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE)

 Semantic Memory: These are the memories of facts, concepts,

names, and other general knowledge information.
Implicit Memories

Classical Conditioning Effects – some out-of-awareness

memories may cause you to feel anxious as you take a test or
make your heart rate increase when you hear a dentist’s drill.

Priming – activating information that already is in long-

term memory through some out-of-awareness process.
Implicit Memories

Procedural Memories – such as how to perform

a specific task like swinging a baseball bat or
making toast, are one type of implicit memory since
you don’t have to consciously recall how to perform
these tasks.
Bio-cultural Theory
Bio-Cultural

 an integration of both biological anthropology and social/cultural

anthropology.
 involves integrating how cultures approach health and healing based
on gender, class, age, education, and their own traditional experience
with illness and healing.
Bio-Cultural

Microgenetic Anaysis – a detailed examination of how a

child solves a problem on a particular learning situation or
in the succeeding learning activities that immediately follow.

Metacognition – individual’s knowledge and control of

cognitive activities.
Bio-Cultural

Nativisim – views human with their genetic traits

seen in all members of the species, regardless of
differences in their environments.

Sociobiology – focuses on the study of society

using the methods and concepts of biological science.
Bio-Cultural

Ethology – points to genetically survival behaviors

assumed to have evolved through natural selection.

- emotional relationships are important for

survival.