1960: Cognitive Approach 💻

Question 1

What does the cognitive approach study? And how?

Answer 1

Internal mental processes. Through scientific lab experiments (not asking about thoughts).

Question 2

What are thoughts effected by in the cognitive approach?

Answer 2

Schema (expectation on what will happen).

Question 3

What does the cognitive approach assume? And how does this influence how it is explained?

Answer 3

That our mind process are similar to a computer. So theoretical models are created to explain processes we can not see like memory.

Question 4

What does the cognitive approach believe about behaviour?

Answer 4

That how you process information effects how you behave ( stimulus -> mental process -> response).

Question 5

What is the schema?

Answer 5

Mental representation (idea) of experience or what will happen.

Question 6

What is the role of the schema?

Answer 6

• allows us to predict situations
• allows fast processing of vast amount of info
• developers with age
• helps organise and interpret info
• helps correct behaviour

Question 7

Negatives of the schema?

Answer 7

• can lead to biases and stereotyping
• can lead to faulty conclusion
• can distort interpretation of sensory information
• can cause bias recall (don’t remember events accurately)

Question 8

What does the rat-man by bugelski and alampay show?

Answer 8

That schema is valid in explaining our behaviour. (As after seeing series of images we were more likely to chose rat after seeing animals or a man after seeing faces).

Question 9

Why does the cognitive approach use theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes?

Answer 9

Because mental processes are invisible.

Question 10

What does the cognitive approach believe our mind is like?

Answer 10

Computer model.

Question 11

What is a theoretical model and give an example?

Answer 11

A diagram representing steps involved with internal mental processes. Example the cognitive process (learning).

Question 12

Why do we need theoretical models?

Answer 12

To have something to study and make inferences from.

Question 13

What is cognitive neuroscience? And where did the idea originate from?

Answer 13

The idea that we can look into peoples mind. From introspection which end influenced the cognitive approach and then advancement to cognitive neuroscience.
Is a mixture of cognitive and biological approach.

Question 14

What is involved in cognitive neuroscience? And what does this help identify?

Answer 14

Scanning equipment. How our brain structure can effect mental processes. Can also identify the chemicals used during these mental processes (thinking).

Question 15

How has neuroscience (scanning) impacted us today?

Answer 15

• identify certain disorders like type one schizophrenia.
• the location of different parts of the brain and where mental processes occur.
• find differences in structure of the brain with people who have a mental disorder.

Question 16

Strengths of the cognitive approach?

Answer 16

1) Has many applications, eg explains dysfunctional behaviour and faulty thinking, lead to treatments to depression with cognitive therapies, these treatments have been proven successful emphasising mental processes for explaining mental disorders is valid.
2) Can be considered a scientific approach, as they do experiments on humans to create theories, meaning conclusions are based on more than common sense and introspection, so the approach can be seen as objective research leading to accurate conclusions on how the mind works.

Question 17

Weaknesses on cognitive approach?

Answer 17

1) Use of computer models, as words like ‘coding and ‘storage’ are used for the mind, however there are differences between the mind and computer programs, eg human minds can forget, make mistakes.
2) ignore important factors, tells us how mental processes take place not why (ignore emotions), may result from over dependence on computer analogy, humans process motivation and emotion however information processing machines do not.

Question 18

Strengths on cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 18

1) Has allowed use of scanning the brain, can be used to identify areas that mental processes take place. By identifying these areas this has allowed us to make comparisons of Brains with and without mental disorders making diagnosis easier (type 2 schizophrenia). Diagnosis can also lead to treatment.

Question 19

Weaknesses on cognitive neuroscience?