Cognitive Flashcards
What is the cognitive approach???
The study of internal mental processes, the role of schema, the use of theoretical and computer models to explain mental processes and subsequent behaviours.
What are the assumptions of the cognitive approach??
- our mental systems have a limited capacity
- a control mechanism oversees al mental processes and
- there is a 2 way flow of information
What are the 3 main research methods???
- Laboratory experiments (very scientific)
- field experiment (takes place in a natural situation)
- natural experiments (making observations in a naturally occurring situation)
What is the information processing model???
Input -> processing -> Output
What are schema???
A ‘package’ of ideas and information developed through experience.
(May allow a person to organise and interpret/process information)
How are schema strengthened??
When the input information is consistent with the schema
How are schema changed???
When input information is inconsistent with the schema the schema adjusts to accommodate new information
What are the 3 different types of schema and what are they????
Role schema - these are ideas about the behaviour which is expected from someone in a curtain role, setting or situation
event schema - these are also called scripts. Which contain information about what will happen in a situation
self schema - these contain information about ourselves based on physical characteristics and personality + beliefs and values.
What happens if a person is unable to adjust their schema????
This can lead to prejudice and stereotypes
Schema that hold information about a specific subgroup may change how we view incoming/new information
- faulty conclusions
- perception errors.
What is the relevance of Bartlett (1932) - the war of the ghost on perceptions of how schema are built ????
The story when recounted from memory is subconsciously adjusted by the persons unconscious schema 100% of the time .
This is used to see how schema affects reconstructed memories.
Methods within brain scanning:
Lesion studies - does brain damage effect behaviour
Electrophysiology - magnetic and electric fields are used to measure brain activity and brain waves
Neuroimaging - pinpointing which areas are used for any given task
Name all the parts of the brain
Cerebral cortex, Pineal gland, Thalamus, Frontal lobe, Hypothalamus, Medulla oblongata, Hippocampus, Amygdala, Pituitary glands, Cerebellum, corgis collosum
+ gyri
Corgis collosum:
Bridge between the 2 sides of the brain, integrates motor, sensory and cognitive performance
Pineal gland:
Controls sleep
Thalamus:
Controls senses except smell
Gyri
= a fold
Frontal lobe:
Responsible for behaviour, language, personality,, etc
Cerebellum:
Controls coordination and balance
Medulla oblongata + brain stem:
Unconscious brain, heart rate, breathing, etc
Hypothalamus:
Controls homeostasis
Hippocampus:
Regulates emotions, learning and memories
Amygdala:
Processes emotions
Pituitary gland:
Produces and releases hormones
Tulving et al (1985)
- using PET and fMRI scans they systematically observed neurological basis in mental processing
Episodic memory + personal memory store
Semantic memory + **knowledge of the world **
Left side -> semantic memory
Right side -> episodic memory
Left Parahippocampus gyrus:
Plays a role in processing unpleasant emotions
- links with OCD and impairment to frontal lobe (control over logical thinking)
Braver et al (1997):
- participants were given tasks that involved the enthral executive whilst having their brains scanned
Results:
- greater activity in the left pre-frontal cortex (the activity increased as the task became harder)
- working memory model (as demands on the Cerebellum increase it has to work harder to fulfil its function)
Strengths of cognitive approach:
- highly scientific study (highly controlled and rigorous methods, lab experiments, creditable)
- cognitive behavioural theory (patients learn how to notice negative thought cognitions and test how accurate they are, positive goals set)
- real world application (important to the study of AI and development of robots)
- less deterministic (recognises can only work within limits of what we know but we are free to think before responding to a stimulus) - interactionist position
Limitations of the cognitive approach:
- machine reductionism (ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation, no free will)
- real world application (can only be observed through behaviours, very theoretical, artificial stimuli is not ecologically valid)
- lacks external validity
