approaches lessons 5-8

Question 1

what are inferences about cognitive mental processes

Answer 1

that the cognitive model might make assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed.

Question 2

what is the key feature of the cognitive approach

Answer 2

in order to understand behaviour, cognitive psychologists focus on attention, memory and how people perceive, store, manipulate and interpret information

Question 3

what are some assumptions of the cognitive approach

Answer 3

internal mental processes can be studied
mental processes can involve schema
theoretical and computer models can be used

Question 4

what are schemas

Answer 4

packets of information or cognitive frameworks that are developed through experience and expectations about how we should behave. they can help us organise and interpret vast amounts of information.

Question 5

what are role and event schemas

Answer 5

role: schema about behaviour that is expected from a particular role
event: schema about what to expect from an event

Question 6

evaluation of cognitive approach

Answer 6

advantages: emphasises lab experiments when collecting data so there is a high level of control and cause and effect can be identified so research is objective.
disadvantages: does not give full picture and scientists still need to make inferences about cognitive processing which might be based on limited information. idea of soft determinism which is behaviour being constrained by the environment or biology.

Question 7

study of role of schemas (bartlett)

Answer 7

lab setting. english pps asked to read native american folk tale called the war of the ghosts which was strange story. pps had to read story and recall after different lengths of time. results show all english pps changed story to fit own schema. order was changed to become more logical and ghosts were left out. words changed from canoes to cars and bows to guns.

Question 8

evaluation of war of ghosts study

Answer 8

advantages: lab setting so IV highly controlled and highly reliable.
disadvantages: pps may be affected by demand characteristics as they might have guessed the aim of study. biased sample as only used english pps which cannot be generalised to other cultures.

Question 9

similarities and differences between computer and mind

Answer 9

similarities: both have memory, input, output. both can malfunction
differences: ones metal and plastic the other is organic. one needs plugging in other does not. one has limited memory other has unlimited

Question 10

information processing model

Answer 10

input: senses code information from environment
processing: information processed via schemas
output: behavioural response occurs

Question 11

the emergence of cognitive neuroscience

Answer 11

emerged in 1971. cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of the influence of brain structure in mental processes. looks at biological basis of thought processes by combining cognitive and biological approach. area of brain can be mapped to locate specific cognitive functions.

Question 12

evaluation of the use of theoretical computer models and the emergence of cognitive neuroscience

Answer 12

advantages: can be applied to practical and theoretical contexts and has helped with development of AI. emphasises scientific methods and lab studies which give high levels of control
disadvantages: not accurate to compare humans to computer models. computers are mechanic and have no free will.

Question 13

maguire study of taxi driver brains

Answer 13

32 healthy males split into two groups. one group were 16 licensed taxi drivers and the other 16 control group never driven taxi. mri scans done of brain and analysed. taxi drivers had larger right posterior hippocampus and longer taxi drivers had larger. this part of brain responsible for visual representation of environment.

Question 14

evaluation of maguire study

Answer 14

advantages: research evidence shows right posterior hippocampus is involved in spatial awareness. previous monkey and rodent studies found a correlation.
disadvantages: only studied males so lacks ecological validity and results can’t be generalised to females. lacks temporal validity as taxing drivers use sat nav’s now

Question 15

genetics definition

Answer 15

extent to which a psychological characteristic is determined by genes or the environment

Question 16

genotype definition

Answer 16

genetic code written in the DNA of cells which are inherited from biological parents.

Question 17

phenotype definition

Answer 17

the characteristics of an individual determined by expression of physical, behavioural and psychological traits

Question 18

evaluation of genetics

Answer 18

advantages: gene mapping can help psychologists locate genes on chromosomes which is highly scientific and objective. it can help psychologists screen people to see if they carry genes for certain illnesses.
disadvantages: it is reductionist as it takes complex human behaviour like IQ and reduces it down to small components alone such as genes

Question 19

role of genes in developing SZ — twin studies by gottesmann and shields

Answer 19

gottesmann and shields investigated 224 twins over 25 years. 106 MZ and 118 DZ. conducted in london hospital. study relied that one twin has SZ and concordance rates were investigated to see likelihood second twin would get it. they used interviews and doctors notes. results were 48% of MZ twins were both concordant and 17% of DZ twins were concordant for SZ

Question 20

evaluation of gottesmann and shields study

Answer 20

advantages: longitudinal study so pps could be tracked and monitored over long periods of time. study supports biological approach as results supports the argument that SZ can be passed by genetics
disadvantages: results ignores behavioural approach as identical twins often copy and model each others behaviour so it could be the healthy twin copied SZ behaviour rather than getting the illness via genetics.

Question 21

what is evolution by charles darwin

Answer 21

darwin focussed on natural selection and adaptiveness to environment over time. mutation can occur which gives favourable characteristics passed on to offspring so they live and reproduce. lea found that aggression is genetic as a warrior gene is found within genotype of 33% males.

Question 22

evaluation of evolutionary approach

Answer 22

advantages: heavily supported by Darwin and survival of the fittest as it helps explain how certain traits becomes adaptive within a species. species compete with each other for the best mate to reproduce with to maximise chances of healthy offspring produced.
disadvantages: does not clearly explain some behaviours and how or why they might be adaptive. for example OCD has been found to be genetic but it is not clear how it is adaptive and can help aid survival of the fittest.

Question 23

research study on sexual selection by buss

Answer 23

investigated what males and females looked for in long term partner. 10000 pps across 37 cultures. had to rate 18 characteristics using 4 point scale. results found females desired males with good financial prospects, resources and ambition. males valued females who had reproductive value and were fertile. all males universally wanted females who were younger than them.

Question 24

evaluation of research by buss

Answer 24

advantages: cross cultural validity as 37 cultures assessed and it showed from an evolutionary perspective females wanted to be protected and cared for.
disadvantages: research by buller criticised idea of females wanting males with financial prospects when in todays society females are independent and have their own resources.

Question 25

what is the parietal lobe

Answer 25

deals and reacts with environment

Question 26

frontal lobe role

Answer 26

controls speech and emotion

Question 27

temporal lobe role

Answer 27

language learning and memory

Question 28

occipital lobe role

Answer 28

vision

Question 29

evaluation of biological structures

Answer 29

advantages: study uses scans such as pet and mri and post mortem studies which adds to scientific evidence.
disadvantages: can be criticised because it can explain some behaviours but not others such as infection of brain can cause SZ but phobias are usually learnt. cause and effects not established as can psychologists be sure brain malfunctioning is causing behaviour to occur.

Question 30

brain structure: neural correlate study by swayze

Answer 30

swayze reviewed 50 studies of SZ patients and examined brain using MRI. they found SZ patients had structural abnormalities in the brain such as a decrease in brain weight and enlarged ventricles and smaller hypothalamus.

Question 31

evaluation of study by swayze

Answer 31

advantages: strong amount of psychological evidence to state SZ makes changes in the brain that occur during pre natal development in the womb.
disadvantages: cause and effect need to be established. does not explain why SZ occurs in early adulthood and not straight away during infancy

Question 32

neurochemistry and its effect on behaviour

Answer 32

looks at biochemistry and the CNS which involves hormones and neurotransmitters. neurotransmitters defined as brain chemicals that communicate info throughout our brain and body. endocrine system consists of ductless glands that release hormones which affect behaviour

Question 33

evaluation of neurochemistry

Answer 33

advantages: neurotransmitters can be measured objectively and scientifically. we also know that a lack of a certain neurotransmitter can lead to a change in behaviour.
disadvantages: cause and effect not established as is it the level of neurotransmitter that causes change in behaviour. can be viewed as reductionist as is complex human behaviour just affected by neurotransmitters

Question 34

dopamine hypothesis by davis and neale

Answer 34

SZ patients tend to have high levels of dopamine in brain. when drugs that block dopamine are given, the SZ symptoms reduce but when drugs like LSD are given which increase dopamine levels the SZ symptoms were induced.

Question 35

evaluation of dopamine hypothesis

Answer 35

advantages: most research uses evidence from brain scans which is highly valid and reliable.
disadvantages: cause and effect not clear as does increased dopamine cause SZ or does SZ cause increased dopamine. can be viewed as reductionist as the complex idea of causes of SZ is down to dopamine alone?