Approaches: The Cognitive Approach

Question 1

What are the assumptions of the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

In contrast to behavioural approach, this approach argues that internal mental processes could and should, be studied scientifically. As a result, the approach studies the areas of behaviour that the behaviourist approach ignores, such as memory, perception and thinking

Question 2

What is the study of internal mental processes?

Answer 2

• Cognitive psychologists follow behaviourists in preferring objective, controlled, scientific methods for investigating behaviour. They use their results as the basis for making inferences about mental processes. One strand of cognitive research involves conducting case studies of brain damage. Comparing their performance on mental tasks with that of uninjured people can help psychologists understand which parts of the brain are used to process which sorts of information.

Question 3

Whats an example of an inference?

Answer 3

A person who screams and runs away shouting wasp!
We can assume the input, through the senses was the sight of a wasp, the processor thought ‘oh no, scary, escape’ and the outward behaviour was the running away.
Therefore we can infer this person retrieved information from their processor that told them to have a fear response to wasps.

Question 4

What is the role of the schema?

Answer 4

Cognitive processing can be affected by person’s beliefs or expectations, referred to as schema.
- Schema are ‘packages’ of ideas and information developed through experience. They act as a framework so we can interpret incoming information from the cognitive system; e.g. you have a schema for a chair – something with legs that you can sit on.
- this helps you to respond to an object appropriately.
- Schema enable us to process lots of information quickly and this is useful as a sort of mental short-cut that prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli. Yet, schemas may distort our interpretations of sensory info, leading to perceptual errors

Question 5

How do schemas change when we get older?

Answer 5

Baby’s schemas are innate motor functions like grasping and sucking.
- as we get older, our schemas become more detailed and sophisticated and have developed mental representations for everything
E.g. what goes on in a restaurant and what a typical zombie looks like.

Question 6

How is theoretical models used to study internal processes?

Answer 6

One important theoretical model is the info processing approach, which suggests that info flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages that include input, storage and retrieval. This is seen in the MSM

Question 7

How is computer models used to study internal processes?

Answer 7

where the mind is compared to a computer by suggesting that there are similarities in the way information is processed.
- These models use the concepts of a central processing unit (the brain), the concept of coding (to turn information into a useable format) and the use of ‘stores’ to hold information.
- these have been useful in the development of ‘thinking machines’ or artificial intelligence

Question 8

How does the computer model work in a series of steps?

Answer 8

• input —> from the environment via the senses and is encoded (programmed by the individual)
• processing —> once info is encoded, it can be processed (e.g. schemas)
• output —> behavioural response following the processing

Question 9

What’s an example of the info processing model?

Answer 9

• input —> hear your dog bark outside and see a firework
• processing —> remember than dogs are scared of fireworks and infer the dog saw the firework
• output —> bring the dog into the house, close the blind and put the radio on

Question 10

What’s some strengths of the cognitive approach?

Answer 10

+ highly controlled and rigorous methods of study. Lab experiment to reliable, objective data - established a credible scientific basis
+ emergence of cognitive neuroscience has brought together biology and cognitive neuroscience.
+ some treatment has emerged using the cognitive theory’s principles - CBT and depression
+ applied to a range of practical and theoretical contexts - e.g. AI and robots - advances that may revolutionise how we live in the future

Question 11

What are some of the weaknesses of the cognitive approach?

Answer 11

• machine reductionism - although similarities between the human mind and the operations of a computer, the computer analogy has been criticised. As ignores the influence of emotion and motivation in the cognitive system, and how this may impact our ability to process. (E.g. memory research suggests that emotional factors like anxiety can affect our eyewitness testimonies)
• application to everyday life - experimental studies of mental processes are often carried out using artificial stimuli
• demand characteristics due to lab experiment