Approaches - the cognitive approach Flashcards
What are the main points of the cognitive approach?
Role of schema and theoretical and computer models
What is the cognitive approach?
Focused on how our mental processes affect behaviour
What does the cognitive approach argue?
That internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically
What does the cognitive approach investigate?
memory, perception and thinking
What are these processes (memory, perception and thinking)?
Private and cannot be observed so they are studied indirectly by making inferences about what is going on inside people’s minds
What is schema?
A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that infuence cognitive processing - developed from experience
What schema are babies born with?
Simple motor schema for inate behaviours such as sucking
What do schemas enable?
Us to process lots of information quickly and this is useful as a mental shortcut that prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli
What is a downfall of schemas?
They can distort our interpretations of sensory information, leading to perceptual errors
What do cognitive psychologists use?
Both theoretical and computer models to help them understand internal mental processes
What are theoretical models?
Abstract
What are computer models?
Concrete
What is one important theoretical model?
Information processing approach
What does the information processing approach suggest?
That information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages which include input, storage and retrieval
What is the information processing model based on?
The way that computers function but a computer model would involve actually programming a computer to see if the instructions produce a similar output to humans
What is cognitive neuroscience?
The scientific study of those biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
What did Paul Broca indentify?
That damage to the area of the frontal lobe could permanently impair speech production
What have fMRI and PET scans helped with?
scientists able to scientifically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes
What is one strength of the cognitive approach?
Scientific methods
What is the evaluation of the cognitive approach having scientific methods?
P: Uses objective, scientific methods
E: Infer cognitive processes at work
E: Involved the use of lab studies
E: Emergence of cognitive neuroscience
L: Study of the mind has credible scientific basis
What is one limitation of the cognitive approach?
Machine reductionism
What is the evaluation of the cognitive approach having machine reductionism?
P: Based on machine reductionism
E: Computer analogy is criticised
E: Ignore the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system and how it affects our ability to process info
L: Weaken the validity of the cognitive approach
What is another strength of the cognitive approach?
Real world application
What is the evaluation of the cognitive approach having real world application?
P: Has practical application
E: Applied to a wide range of practical and theoretical contexts
E: Important contribution in the field of artifical intelligence
E: improved the witness of eyewitness testimony
L: Supports the value of the cognitive approach
