approaches lessons 5-8 Flashcards
what are inferences about cognitive mental processes
that the cognitive model might make assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed.
what is the key feature of the cognitive approach
in order to understand behaviour, cognitive psychologists focus on attention, memory and how people perceive, store, manipulate and interpret information
what are some assumptions of the cognitive approach
internal mental processes can be studied
mental processes can involve schema
theoretical and computer models can be used
what are schemas
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.
what are role and event schemas
role: schema about behaviour that is expected from a particular role
event: schema about what to expect from an event
evaluation of cognitive approach
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.
study of role of schemas (bartlett)
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.
evaluation of war of ghosts study
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.
similarities and differences between computer and mind
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
information processing model
input: senses code information from environment
processing: information processed via schemas
output: behavioural response occurs
the emergence of cognitive neuroscience
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.
evaluation of the use of theoretical computer models and the emergence of cognitive neuroscience
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.
maguire study of taxi driver brains
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.
evaluation of maguire study
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
genetics definition
extent to which a psychological characteristic is determined by genes or the environment
genotype definition
genetic code written in the DNA of cells which are inherited from biological parents.
phenotype definition
the characteristics of an individual determined by expression of physical, behavioural and psychological traits
evaluation of genetics
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
role of genes in developing SZ — twin studies by gottesmann and shields
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
evaluation of gottesmann and shields study
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.
what is evolution by charles darwin
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.
evaluation of evolutionary approach
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.
research study on sexual selection by buss
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.
evaluation of research by buss
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.
what is the parietal lobe
deals and reacts with environment
frontal lobe role
controls speech and emotion
temporal lobe role
language learning and memory
occipital lobe role
vision
evaluation of biological structures
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.
brain structure: neural correlate study by swayze
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.
evaluation of study by swayze
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
neurochemistry and its effect on behaviour
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
evaluation of neurochemistry
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
dopamine hypothesis by davis and neale
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.
evaluation of dopamine hypothesis
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?
