cognitive

Question 1

What are the assumptions of the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

1) The mind works like a computer

2) Internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically

Question 2

How are internal mental processes generally studied?

Answer 2

Subjective inferences are made from objective data

Question 3

Give one important theoretical model

Answer 3

The information processing approach-information flows through the cognitive system in stages including input, storage and retrieval (the multi-store model)

Question 4

What is a schema?

Answer 4

A ‘packet’ of information developed through experience.

Question 5

What is the role of a schema?

Answer 5

To speed up the recollection of ideas or information and manage our expectations or beliefs

Question 6

What are two studies which support the existence of schemas?

Answer 6

• The Rat-Man (Bugelski and Alampay)

- War of the Ghosts (Bartlett, 1932)

Question 7

Why can schemas sometimes cause us problems?

Answer 7

They can sometimes make us skip information because we expect it to be something it’s not, not only does this have us make mistakes easily but also forms the basis of our prejudices and fears.

Question 8

What are some benefits of the cognitive approach?

Answer 8

• Less deterministic (considers thought processes)
• Studies are often replicable and use the scientific method
• Observes objective information
• High ecological validity

Question 9

What are some limitations of the psychology approach?

Answer 9

• Relies on subjective inferences
• Tends to be quite ignorant of biology
• Lacks real-life applications
• Demand characteristics (subjects can be biased and say what they are expected to)
• Ignores subjects’ emotions/focuses on objective motivation

Question 10

What is the purpose of a schema for a newborn child?

Answer 10

Children are born with innate motor schemas for behaviours such as sucking or grasping, this helps them to interact with their mothers and survive childhood

Question 11

What are FMRI and PET scans for?

Answer 11

They are used to observe the neurological basis of mental processes

Question 12

What is an FMRI scan?

Answer 12

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

• Measures change in blood flow in certain parts of the brain
• relies on the fact that blood flow and neuronal activity are linked

Question 13

What is a PET scan?

Answer 13

Positron emission tomography

• Dye containing radioactive tracers is ingested
• Tracers link to haemoglobin and so will show up in most active areas of the brain