5. APPROACHES (The Cognitive Approach) Flashcards
What do cognitive psychologists believe about explaining behaviour?
Cognitive psychologists believe that thought processes are essential in explaining behaviour and should be studied scientifically using controlled laboratory studies.
What is the cognitive approach’s comparison between the mind and a computer?
The cognitive approach compares the mind to a computer, suggesting that information is input through our senses, processed, and produces an output like language or behaviours.
How does the cognitive approach differ from behaviourism in explaining stimulus and response?
The cognitive approach acknowledges that thought processes between stimulus and response are crucial, whereas behaviourism focuses solely on the stimulus-response relationship.
What is the study of internal mental processes in the cognitive approach?
The study of internal mental processes involves investigating how we process, store, and retrieve information, using observable behaviour to infer what is happening in the mind.
What is a schema in the cognitive approach?
A schema is a mental framework that helps organize and interpret information based on past experiences. Schemas allow us to process information quickly and predict future events.
How do schemas form and why are they useful?
Schemas are formed through experience and help individuals make sense of the world. They allow for quicker processing of information and help predict outcomes, enabling efficient decision-making.
What role do theoretical models play in cognitive psychology?
Theoretical models in cognitive psychology describe mental processes in steps, offering testable hypotheses and enabling scientific study. These models help understand complex mental activities.
How does the computer analogy relate to the cognitive approach?
The computer analogy suggests that the brain functions like a computer with a central processing unit (the brain), coding (converting information), and stores (holding information) to process stimuli and produce outputs.
What is a limitation of the computer analogy in explaining human behaviour?
The computer analogy may be oversimplistic, ignoring individual differences and the emotional aspects of human behaviour, leading to “machine reductionism.”
What is cognitive neuroscience?
Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of how brain structures and neural processes influence mental functions, using brain imaging techniques to observe the neurological basis of cognitive activities.
What is the significance of fMRI in cognitive neuroscience?
fMRI measures blood flow in the brain, indicating neural activity. It helps identify which brain areas are active during specific cognitive tasks.
How did Tulving’s research on memory support cognitive neuroscience?
Tulving’s study using PET scans showed that semantic and episodic memories are controlled by different parts of the prefrontal cortex, supporting the idea of separate memory stores in the brain.
What is a limitation of cognitive neuroscience in practical applications?
A limitation is the potential for controversial applications, such as brain fingerprinting in lie detection, which can lead to overreliance on scientific methods and wrongful convictions.
How has the cognitive approach contributed to treatments?
The cognitive approach has led to treatments like CBT, which identifies and changes maladaptive thoughts, proving effective in treating conditions like depression.
What is a strength of the cognitive approach in terms of research participants?
The cognitive approach often uses human participants, making its findings more generalizable to human behaviour compared to approaches that use animal research.
