Lecture 2: The Componential Subtheory

Abstract

The first part of the triarchic theory specifies the internal mental mechanisms that are responsible for intelligent behaviour. These mental mechanisms are referred to as information-processing components~ A component is a mental process that may translate a sensory input into a mental representation, transform one mental representation into another, or translate a mental representation into a motor output. Components perform three kinds of functions. Metacomponents are higher order processes used in planning, monitoring, and evaluating one’s task performance. Performance components are processes used in the execution of a task. Knowledge-acquisition components are processes used in learning new things. It is essential to understand the nature of these components, because they form the mental bases for other parts of the theory, that is, for dealing with novel kinds of tasks and situations, for automatising information processing, and for adapting to, shaping, and selecting environments.