Approaches - cognitive approach Flashcards
cognitive
related to mental processes such as perception, memory and reasoning
cognitive neuroscience
studying the underlying neutral bases of cognitive functions
computer model
using computer analogies as a representation of human cognition
inferring
reaching logical conclusion based on evidence and reasoning
schema
a conceptual framework a person uses to make sense of the world
theoretical models
simplified, usually pictorial, representations of a particular mental process based on current research evidence
what are the key features of the cognitive approach?
- necessary to look at internal processes to understand behaviour
- how people perceive, store, manipulate, and interpret information
internal mental processing
selecting important info (attention), using it to solve problems (thinking), storing as a memory and retrieving it when needed
role of schemas
shortcuts when interpreting large amounts of info + helps us fill gaps in our knowledge. based off experiences, beliefs and ideas which means we may develop stereotypes
the role of computer models
sensory info is ‘coded’ when passing through system, then ‘inputted’ through stores, ‘encoded’ into memory + combined with previously stored info, ‘output’ is a behaviour or emotion
the role of theoretical models
they are pictorial, showing cause and effect with arrows - simplified. they are often changed or refined and are sometimes incomplete
the emergence of cognitive neuroscience
brain scanning to study impact of brain structures on cognitive processes - MRI and PET scans. shows what parts of brain become active when performing different activities - treating different mental/memory problems
evaluation of cognitive approach
+ helps understand and treat internal mental processes
+ scientific methods
- models over-simplify explanations for complex mental processes
- comparing human mind to computer could be seen as unsophisticated
- data that supports is from lab experiments -> unrealistic?
