Claudia Blanco García Cognition and Emotion 2020/2021
Lecture 1 - What is cognition?
Overview:
1. Introduction
a. Relation between cognition and emotion
2. Definitions and taxonomies
a. Levels of analysis
b. Automaticity
c. Rule based vs associative
d. Aboutness and qualia
3. What is cognition?
a. Topological account
b. Mentalist account
c. Narrow accounts
1.Introduction
1.1.Relation between cognition and emotion
There is a basic assumption that says that there’s a fundamental distinction between cognition and emotion. This
distinction is also made in science.
In the literature we can find three criteria in which emotion and cognition differ:
- Automaticity: emotions are more automatic
- Embodiment: emotions are more physical, goes with facial expressions
- Poor encapsulation: emotions can affect the rest of your thoughts, they are spread (not encapsulated) –
e.g., sadness.
However these three criteria don’t seem to be unique for emotions.
But anyway this distinction is omnipresent in research and e have to be aware.
2.Definition and taxonomies
2.1.Levels of analysis
There are 3 levels of analysis when studying the mind and behaviour
Functional: it’s about translating input into output. You use elements in the environment to explain a change in
behaviour. E.g.: when you see a dog, you scream. Question: why is the woman screaming?
Algorithmic: This is a cognitive level, we look at mediation. Why is this input resulting in this output? Questions:
why does the dog lead to a scream? By answering this question we can come up with cognitive mechanisms: e.g.
inferential reasoning
Implementational: neural basis of the mechanisms. Question: what happens in the brain between the input and
output?
1
, Claudia Blanco García Cognition and Emotion 2020/2021
When we talk about cognition, we are mainly talking about the algorithmic level (mechanisms). The mental
mechanisms can be:
- Automatic
- Rule based or associative
- They have aboutness and qualia
These are common concepts to describe cognition
2.2.Automaticity vs non-automaticity
There’s a traditional idea that there are two systems in the mind: one fast and emotional and another slower and
rational (dualism).
However, we will not make a distinction between 2 system, but we will make a distinction in terms of degree of
automaticity.
When we talk about automatic processes we talk about:
- Uncontrolled (unintentional)
- Unaware
- Efficient
- Fast
When we talk about non-automatic processes:
- Controlled (intentional)
- Aware
- Non - efficient
- Slow
General idea:
- It’s not all or nothing: processes aren’t automatic or non-automatic, they are automatic in some features
and non-automatic in other ones. This is why this is not a system view.
- The distinction between processes should be a matter of degree (how controlled, how fast..)
We will now discuss the different features of automaticity.
Controlled vs uncontrolled
A process is controlled when a person has a goal about the process and his goal causes the desired effect.
A process is uncontrolled when one or more ingredients (effect, goal or causal relation) are missing.
2
Lecture 1 - What is cognition?
Overview:
1. Introduction
a. Relation between cognition and emotion
2. Definitions and taxonomies
a. Levels of analysis
b. Automaticity
c. Rule based vs associative
d. Aboutness and qualia
3. What is cognition?
a. Topological account
b. Mentalist account
c. Narrow accounts
1.Introduction
1.1.Relation between cognition and emotion
There is a basic assumption that says that there’s a fundamental distinction between cognition and emotion. This
distinction is also made in science.
In the literature we can find three criteria in which emotion and cognition differ:
- Automaticity: emotions are more automatic
- Embodiment: emotions are more physical, goes with facial expressions
- Poor encapsulation: emotions can affect the rest of your thoughts, they are spread (not encapsulated) –
e.g., sadness.
However these three criteria don’t seem to be unique for emotions.
But anyway this distinction is omnipresent in research and e have to be aware.
2.Definition and taxonomies
2.1.Levels of analysis
There are 3 levels of analysis when studying the mind and behaviour
Functional: it’s about translating input into output. You use elements in the environment to explain a change in
behaviour. E.g.: when you see a dog, you scream. Question: why is the woman screaming?
Algorithmic: This is a cognitive level, we look at mediation. Why is this input resulting in this output? Questions:
why does the dog lead to a scream? By answering this question we can come up with cognitive mechanisms: e.g.
inferential reasoning
Implementational: neural basis of the mechanisms. Question: what happens in the brain between the input and
output?
1
, Claudia Blanco García Cognition and Emotion 2020/2021
When we talk about cognition, we are mainly talking about the algorithmic level (mechanisms). The mental
mechanisms can be:
- Automatic
- Rule based or associative
- They have aboutness and qualia
These are common concepts to describe cognition
2.2.Automaticity vs non-automaticity
There’s a traditional idea that there are two systems in the mind: one fast and emotional and another slower and
rational (dualism).
However, we will not make a distinction between 2 system, but we will make a distinction in terms of degree of
automaticity.
When we talk about automatic processes we talk about:
- Uncontrolled (unintentional)
- Unaware
- Efficient
- Fast
When we talk about non-automatic processes:
- Controlled (intentional)
- Aware
- Non - efficient
- Slow
General idea:
- It’s not all or nothing: processes aren’t automatic or non-automatic, they are automatic in some features
and non-automatic in other ones. This is why this is not a system view.
- The distinction between processes should be a matter of degree (how controlled, how fast..)
We will now discuss the different features of automaticity.
Controlled vs uncontrolled
A process is controlled when a person has a goal about the process and his goal causes the desired effect.
A process is uncontrolled when one or more ingredients (effect, goal or causal relation) are missing.
2
