5.7. Cognitive Approach Flashcards
What is the Cognitive approach?
Developed in the 1950s as a response to the behaviourists failure to acknowledge mental processes.
The cognitive approach studies the areas of behaviour that the behaviours approach ignore such as, memory, perception, and thinking.
The development of the first computer gave cognitive psychologists a metaphor for describing mental processes.
What is the cognitive approach centred on?
On the idea that internal mental processes can and should, be studied scientifically.
What do we mean by mental processes?
Internal operations of the mind that mediate between stimulus and response.
How do psychologists study mental processes?
Mental processes are internal and private and therefore cannot be observed.
Due to this, cognitive psychologists study them indirectly by making inferences.
What do we mean by inferences?
The process through drawing conclusions about the way mental processes operate using observable behaviour.
What is the information processing approach?
Sensory ->short term -> long term
Sensory=Unattended info is lost
Short=unrehearsed gets lost
Long=some may be lost overtime
What does the information processing model suggest?
Information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages that include input, storage and retrieval.
Computer Models
Computer models compare the mind to a computer, suggesting there are similarities in the way that info is processed.
These models use consorts of coding and the use of stores to hold info.
Computer models have been useful in the development of artificial intelligence.
The Role of the Schema
Cognitive processes are affected by a person beliefs or expectations.
As we get older, our schema will change and develop.
Schemata allows us to process a lot of information quickly. This creates a mental shortcut which prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli. Howeve our schemata can distort our interpretations of sensory information which can lead to perceptual errors.
What is a Schema?
Mental framework of beliefs and expectations which influence cognitive processing. Developed from experience.
The Emergence of Cognitive Neuroscience
It is only in the last 20 years, with the advance of Braun imaging techniques that’s Vientiane have been able to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes.
How has cognitive neuroscience been effective?
Has been useful in research that requires the use of episodic and semantic memory. Tulving et al, were able to show how these different types of long memory may be located on opposite sides of the pre-frontal cortex.
What has happened recently with cognitive neuroscience?
Recently it has expanded to include the use of computer-generated models designed to read the brain.
This has led to the development of mind mapping techniques, known as brain fingerprinting. One possible use of this could be to analyse the brain wave patterns of EW to determine if they are lying in court.
One strength of the cognitive approach
Uses scientific and objective methods.
Lab experiments produce reliable and objective data. Also the emergence of cognitive neuroscience has brought together biology and cognitive psychology.
HW, artificial stimuli, may not represent everyday life lowering ecological validity.
There4, scientific credibility but is artificial
Second strength of the cognitive approach
Produced a number of real world applications
The study of memory has led to the development of the cognitive interview which has decreased the accuracy of EWT leadin to decrease in wrongful convictions.
FURTHERMORE, it has helped us understand the cause of depression and produced CBT.
The fact that this theory can be applied increases validity
