🔵 Approaches - The Cognitive Approach Flashcards
Cognitive approach
Approach focusing on how our mental processes affect behaviour
Internal mental processes
Private operations of the mind such as perception and attention that mediate between stimulus and response
Schema
Mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing. They are developed for experience
Inference
Psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour
Cognitive neuroscience
Scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
Main Assumption of cognitive approach
Internal mental processes should be studied. Meaning areas of human behaviour neglected by behaviourists, such as memory p, perception and thinking should be investigated.
Because internal mental processes are private and cannot be observed, what do psychologists do?
Study them indirectly by making inferences about what is going on inside people’s minds on the basis of their behaviour
Because internal mental processes are private and cannot be observed, what do psychologists do?
Study them indirectly by making inferences about what is going on inside people’s minds on the basis of their behaviour
What are theoretical models
Diagrammatic representations of the Steos involved in internal mental processes
How are theoretical models used to make inferences of internal mental processes
Diagrams use arrows and boxes to indicate cause and effect or stages of a mental process. The features of the model are based of inference since mental processes cannot be directly observed
Computer models
Mind is compared to a computer. Suggesting there are simarities
How do our minds work like a computer
- input = external stimuli
- internal processes (coding) = internal mental processes)
- output = behaviour
What are schemes developed through
Personal expreruence
What do schemas act as a
Mental framework for the interpretation of incoming information received by the cognitive system
What do schemas enable us to do
- Process a lot of information quickly and this is useful as a sort of mental short cut t
- prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli
- help us predict what will happen based on past experiences
Problems with schema
- can lead to faulty conclusions and unhelpful behaviour (e.g before exams)
- may develop stereotypes
- may distort our interpretations of sensory information
- can cause bias recall based on what we expect to see
Years of cognitive apppriach
1960s
When was cognitive neuroscience made and by who
1970s by Miller and Gazziniga
What is cognitive neuroscience c
It studies the influence of brain structures on mental processes m
What is cognitive neuroscience c
It studies the influence of brain structures on mental processes m
What has changed to allow neuroscience to emerge
Advances in brain scanning technology meaning scientists have been able to describe neurological basis of mental processing
What has allowed us to locate parts of the brain involved in information processing
- positron emission tomography (PET SCANS)
- functional magnetic resonance Imaging (fMRI)
How has neuroimaging helped with disorders
Neuroimaging has helped us to establish the neurological basis for some disorders such as enlarged ventricles in schizophrenia, however, cannot tell us if this is cause or consuqurnce
Practical applications of cognitive neuroscience
- scanning techniques used
- scanning techniques to study mental processing
- use of computer stimulations to test theories or hypotheses about mental processses
Strengths of cognitive approach
- methods are highly scientific - objectivity and control ensures that studies are reliable
- findings of studies have provided basis for therapies and stragetice to help people with behavioural problems
- dominant approach and further developments in technology and science have enabled cognitive psychologists to develop more sophisticated models to explain role of internal mental processes
Weaknesses of cognitive approach
- lab experiments criticised for lacking ecological validity
- inferences made relying on behaviour could lack validity and reduce reliability of the study
- comparing human mind to computer could be seen as too simplistic
Evidence of Schemas
Bugelsky and alampay (1962): rat man, aimed to investigate whether previous knowledge affect the perception of new material
