COGS 100 – RR1
Step 1: Choose one physical or mental process which interests you. (Examples include: learning
to walk, acquiring a new skill such as painting or football, eating or drinking, addiction, insomnia,
falling in love, etc.).
Answer: Learning to Bake
Step 2: Explain that process from the point of view of a behaviorist. How would a behaviorist
explain how that process comes about, unfolds, gets learned, etc.?
Answer: In my case, randomly one day I baked some cookies, whose taste was really appreciated
by my family. I think those compliments which I received for baking good cookies acted as
reinforcement for me, which made me interested in learning and baking more often.
From the point of view of a behaviourist, positive compliments received for baking for example a
cake, cupcake or cookies, acts a positive reinforcement for a baker. The reinforcement in the form
of positive compliments motivates a baker to continue baking and making them feel proud of their
skill.
Step 3: Now, explain what might be missing from (or what’s wrong with) the behaviorist’s
explanation. What are we unable to explain through behaviorism alone?
Answer: Behaviourist only focus on the reinforcements which are used to perform something,
however learning a skill, and improving it constantly go beyond than reinforcements. In my
opinion reinforcements just act as motivation.
As baking is a process which involves constant improving. There are many situations of going
something wrong, for example, underbaked cake, inaccurate proportions of material, etc. If we
solely rely on the positive reinforcements one would get easily demotivated and just stop learning
that skill. Baking comes with constant development of recipes, following steps, and mixing
accurate ratios. If for once something is done inaccurately while baking, and the result is not as
expected, it could lead to termination of learning baking.
Step 4: Try and explain that same process from the point of view of a cognitive scientist. Use core
concepts from cognitive science (representation, information processing) in your response.
Answer: From Cognitive Science perspective baking does not solely depend on reinforcements, it
involves representation of steps in which ingredients go into the recipe. A baker first forms a plan
in which everything goes step by step, which is represented in mind, processes the time it takes for
each step and the procedure required. If something goes wrong rather than being demotivated,
brain thinks of the problems that might have led to the issue and immediately thinks of the possible
solutions. For example, if the cake is underbaked after the expected time for the cake to be properly
baked, one will think of the problems, say batter too liquidy or baking temperature too low, and
then mind will think of solution, leaving the cake in the oven for longer. This way from the
cognitive science perspective, things does not only depend on reinforcements, other factors such
as information processing, and problem solving is involved.
Step 5: Think about one of the physical or mental processes your classmates brought up during
in-class discussion. Did you think that process was better explained by behaviorism or by cognitive
science? Explain why.
Answer: The process that one of my group mate brought up was eating and drinking. This process
I think is equally explained using both the factors. In terms of behaviour, we get to know we need
to eat or drink when we are hungry or thirsty. Hunger or thirst acts as a stimulus for us to eat or
drink. On the other side, in terms of cognitive science, eating and drinking is a key to survive. We
need take to our meals and drink water daily in order to keep surviving. Our body has requirements
for nutrients and minerals which help it to function properly. Therefore, eating and drinking
depends both on behaviour, and Cognitive science.