Cognition
Cognitive control prioritizes information that reaches conscious awareness while constraining mental operations. It is essential for flexible and adaptive behavior in a condition of uncertainty. There are two modes of thinking proposed by psychologists Richard West and Keith Stanovich (Stanovich & West, 2008). The first system operates quickly and automatically, uses little or zero effect, and is involuntary. The second system gives attention to mental activities that require effort, such as complex computations.
The first task that required drawing four straight lines to join four dots in a square matrix required more concentration and strategy to complete the job. I failed the assignment due to the assumption that the dots provided the boundaries of where the lines should start. The ‘Stroop Effect’ test required one to name the colors, not the words. The first test was easy as the terms represented the colors used. The first test used the first system proposed by West and Stanovich in the modes of thinking. The second ‘Stroop Effect’ test, however, took 49 seconds to complete and required more attention as the words did not match the color used. The test required the use of the second thinking system, which needs more mental tenacity. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The third test required more mental action to complete the task. The trial initially required one to choose a number between one and nine and ends with naming the color of an animal. The test was extended and required a lot of concentration to complete. The test was to help understand why the individual thinks or acts in a certain way. It also helps us understand the behavior and attention of an individual.
In conclusion, the first two tests help us understand the difference between an automatic reaction and voluntary control. The third test was usefully focused mainly on the attention and behavior of an individual.
Reference
Stanovich, K., & West, R. (2008). On the relative independence of thinking biases and cognitive ability. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94(4), 672-695. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.94.4.672