Approaches: Cognitive approach

Question 1

what is the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

the study of internal mental processing. Thinking, decision making, planning and language.

Question 2

what are the assumptions of the cognitive approach?

Answer 2

• directly contrasts the behaviourist approach as cognitive approach argues that internal mental processes can, and should, be studied scientifically. (even though you cannot see them)
• processes are ‘private’ and cannot be observed. so cognitive psychologists study them indirectly by making inferences on the basis of their behaviour.
• compares us to computers
• seperates the brain and the mind (the physical organ VS the processes and tastks you can perform in your head.)

Question 3

Explain the process of how they study internal mental processes.

Answer 3

• cognitive psychologists will give participants a task/stimuli in scientific conditions(high control)
• they monitor their response
• they infer what is happening between stimulus and response.

Question 4

What does inference mean?

Answer 4

drawing conclusions about mental processes, which cant be seen, based on how you respond to a stimulus.

Question 5

What is a theoretical model and computer models.

Answer 5

Using inferences cognitive psychologists build ‘models’:

theoretical model is a simplified diagram of a mental process to show the stages that occur within the mind to make a behaviour happen.

computer models compare the mind to how computers works with input and output.

Question 6

what is the informational process model?

Answer 6

its an example of a theoretical/computational model: the idea that humans mental process can be broken into three steps. Input, processing and output.

Input - comes from the environment via the senses and is encoded by the individual

Processing - once the information is encoded it can processed. E.g. Schemas

Output - the output is the behavioural responses. This is emitted following the processing.

Question 7

Evaluate the cognitive approach

Answer 7

P: One weakness of the cognitive approach is that it cannot be considered fully scientific.
E: This is because it studies thought processes that cannot be seen using the process of inference rather than studying things in empirical way through observation.
E: This is a weakness because it weakens psychology reputation as a weakness.
L: therefore, the cognitive approach doesn’t fully support the idea that psychology is science

P:One strength of the cognitive approach is that is has practical application.
E- For example, the cognitive approach has been used to create therapy for depression known as
cognitive behaviour therapy, and cognitive neuroscience has helped to support individuals who
have suffered strokes and brain injuries.
E: This is a strength because if these treatments work, it suggests the cognitive approach may explain menta thought process.
L: therefore, the cognitive approach is useful t society and explains real life phenomena

P: One strength of the co5