Last Modified: October, 1996
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Norman's (1980) model of the mind identifies three major components:
The systems model presented here uses these three components of the mind to organize many of the major issues and topics discussed in educational psychology. The regulatory system is redefined as the aspect of the mental system that regulates input and output functions. This model also highlights the fact the mind receives information and displays action through the body; adds a biological and spiritual influence on the development and functioning of the components of mind and adds a feedback loop connecting overt responses (labled "output") and resulting stimuli from the environment
There are therefore four major components of the individual in this systems model of human behavior
- Cognitive system -- Perceives, stores, processes, and retrieves information
- Affective system -- Can modify perceptions and thoughts before and after they are processed cognitively
- Regulatory system -- Directs and manages input and output functioning
- Behavioral system -- Overt action of organism (output of the individual)
It is hypothesized that an individual's thinking (cognition), feeling (affect), and willing (conation) as well as overt behavior develop as a result of:
- transactions among the various components of mind as
- influenced by biological maturation, bodily functioning and the spiritual dimension of the individual,
- the environment or context of the individual, and
- the feedback from the environment as a result of an individual's overt behavior
Continue on to The Context of Development
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