Approaches- cognitive approach

Question 1

How can schemas be unhelpful -x3

Answer 1

1) Can distort our interpretation of sensory information
2) Can lead to perceptual errors or inaccurate EWTs
3) Can cause bias recall/ seeing what we expect

Question 2

How can schemas be helpful

Answer 2

1) Can help us predict what will happen in our world based on our experiences
2) allows us to process vast amounts of information daily
3) prevent us from becoming overwhelmed by environmental stimuli

Question 3

Assumptions of the cognitive approach -Hint: there are 4

Answer 3

Cognitive primacy - behaviour is driven by internal mental processes.
Cognitive processing - The mind deals with information and our abilities to use that information.
We process information in a linear systematic way and uses a computer analogy to explain behaviour.
Uses scientific research methods - e.g., experiments to measure observable behaviour we can make inferences about.

Question 4

What is the main assumption of the cognitive approach

Answer 4

Cognitive primacy - behaviour is driven by internal mental processes.

Question 5

What the information processing response claim

Answer 5

We process information in a linear systematic way -Information flows ‘through’ the brain in a way that seems logical.Input — process — output

Question 6

What is an inference

Answer 6

Going beyond the immediate evidence to make assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed

Question 7

What is the ‘hardware’ in the computer analogy

Answer 7

Organic matter in your skull- same for everyone

Question 8

What is the ‘software’ in the computer analogy

Answer 8

cognitive processes like memory - differs slightly to other people

Question 9

What is a scheme

Answer 9

A mental / cognitive structure which contains knowledge about an object, person, activity or even roles based on experience.

Question 10

What does a schema do - They have 2 roles

Answer 10

They help us interpret and simplify incoming information so they help us to be more cognitively efficient
They affect how we interpret the world

Question 11

What did Bartlett say about schemas

Answer 11

proposed that schemas have a big role in how memories are encoded, stored and retrieved

Question 12

Cognitive processes identified using post mortem examinations

Answer 12

Brocas area

Question 13

Cognitive processes identified using fMRI

Answer 13

Memory and problem solving -P’s (and animals!) are asked to perform cognitive tasks whilst in the scanner which enables the researcher to identify which brain areas are the most active during the tasks.

Question 14

Cognitive processes identified using EEGs

Answer 14

sleep disorders (e.g night terrors, sleepwalking), epilepsy, mild cognitive impairments linked to dementia as well as monitoring brain activity during psychosurgery.

Question 15

Evaluation -Evidence. Temple Wisconsin

Answer 15

Cognitions are critical in many disorders - the Temple Wisconsin longitudinal study of depression found that 17% of uni student p’s who went on to experience a period of severe depression scored highly on tests assessing negative thinking patterns, compared to only 1% who scored low on such tests.This means that the approach has evidence to validate its claims and assumptions, unlike other approaches (e.g. the psychodynamic approach).

Question 16

Evaluation -Validity may be questioned

Answer 16

However, internal COGNITIVE processes cannot be directly observed, only INFERRED from behaviour.For example, when investigating the working memory model as an explanation of short term memory, Bunge et al (2000) found that there was significantly more activity in the brain when two tasks were being performed than when only one task was done.Whilst the existence of a central executive requiring more brain activity may be inferred from this, it has not actually been directly ,measured and so these conclusions may not be valid

Question 17

Evaluation-practical applications

Answer 17

The cognitive approach has led to significant PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS that have helped society.findings from research into factors that distort the accuracy of EWT have helped society in many ways e.g. the development of more effective ways to interview eyewitnesses like the cognitive interview which has resulted in more accurate EWT’s.This means that the cognitive approach has proved to be valuable to society and helps society function

Question 18

Evaluation-mechanical reductionism

Answer 18

The cognitive approach suffers from cognitive MECHANICAL REDUCTIONISM.As the approach focuses exclusively on thought processes, it neglects to consider proven factors that influence behaviour such as unconscious processing and emotional factors. For instance, although cognitions may often dictate feelings and behaviours, sometimes feelings can dictate our thinking patterns as well.This means that although the approach provides valuable insights, it offers an incomplete explanation of behaviour.