approaches: the cognitive approach Flashcards
what is the cognitive approach?
the study of how internal mental processes e.g. attention, perception and memory) affects our behaviour
key assumptions of the cognitive approach:
- humans are information processors
- between stimulus and response are complex mental processes, which can be studied scientifically - mainly through experiments
- the workings of a computer and the human mind are alike - they encode and they store information, and they have outputs.
what is a schema?
a package of beliefs and expectations on a topic that come from prior experience and influence how we think about something.
how are schemas useful?
- they help us process lots of information quickly by taking shortcuts in thinking
- they allow us to engage with the world without being overwhelmed by sensory information such as assigning objects to a schema
- allow us to make assumptions about what objects and people will do in similar situations
how can schemas cause problems?
- may distort our interpretations of sensory information, leading to perceptual errors.
- negative schemas can lead to poor mental health; may have faulty schemas that bias their thinking about themselves
- can lead to errors in info-processing such as prejudice and discrimination.
what models are used to explain and make inferences about mental processes?
theoretical and computer models
outline the theoretical model
- flow chart representations of the steps of a specific mental process
- uses the information processing approach -> information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages that include input, storage and retrieval
outline the computer model
- analogy between the operation of a computer’s central processing unit and the human brain conducting internal mental processes
- suggests both systems receive inputs and generate outputs
- central processing unit = the brain
- coding = thinking/turning info into a useable format
- stores = memory (schema); to hold different chunks of info
- focuses more on how we structure the process of reaching the behavioural output (i.e. the aim, strategy and action taken)
what is cognitive neuroscience?
the scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes. (using brain mapping technology to demonstrate ideas within cognitive approach theories)
what has led to the emergence of cognitive neuroscience?
brain mapping technology e.g. fMRI and PET scanners allows researchers to give participants cognitive tasks and observe activity in different areas of the brain
examples of brain mapping:
- Tulving et al.: used tasks that required the use of episodic and semantic memory. Showed how these different types of long-term memory may be located on opposite ends of the pre-frontal cortex
- Braver et al. (1997): found that when their participants were performing activities involving the central executive (system in overall charge of working memory) while being scanned, the prefrontal cortex showed greater activity. This suggests that the central executive is situated in the prefrontal cortex.
- Crum et al. (2011): examined relationship between thoughts, schema, mindset and human biology- ‘Mind over Milkshakes’ study
evaluation: scientific and objective methods (strength + weakness)
- uses scientific methods, primarily lab experiments
- controlled and replicable, so the results are reliable
- provides quantifiable data that can generate testable hypotheses
- uses brain imaging technologies
- has enabled two fields of biology + cognitive psychology to come together -> established a credible scientific basis
- lack ecological validity because of the artificiality of the tasks and environment, so they might not reflect the way people process information in their everyday life.
evaluation: machine reductionism (weakness)
- computer model of the mind criticised
- ignores influence of human emotion + motivation on cognitive system and how this may effect our ability to process info
- brain is far more complex than a computer
- computers and humans very diff: human memory is flawed and reconstructive but computer memory is stored and recalled with perfect accuracy
- human memory affected by emotional factors
evaluation: real life application (strength)
- dominant approach in psych -> applied to a wide range of practical + theoretical concepts
- understanding schema led to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy -> effective with a wide range of psychopathologists
- insights into how schemas affect eyewitness testimony accuracy have informed jury instructions, helping prevent wrongful convictions
- contribution in field of artificial intelligence
- behavioural economics: helps us identify cognitive biases, leading to improved decision making in many areas; financial, personal, occupational etc.
