Cognitive Approach Flashcards
Scientific And objective methods
This approach has always employed highly controlled and rigorous methods of study in order to enable researchers to infer cognitive processes at work. it uses lab studies which produce reliable, objective data. Also the emergence of cognitive neuroscience has allowed biology and cognitive psychology to come together. This means that the study of the mind has established scientific credibility.
Machine reductionism
Although there are similarities between the human mind and the operations of computers, the computer analogy has been criticised by many. Such machine reductionism ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system and how this may affect our ability to process information. Research has shown that human memory may be affected by emotional factors such as influence of anxiety on eyewitnesses.
Artificial stimuli
Cognitive psychologists are only able to infer mental processes from the behaviour they observing their research . As a consequence cognitive psychology occasionally suffers from being too abstract and theoretical in nature. Furthermore mental processes are often carried out using artificial stimuli (such as word lists) that may not represent everyday memory experience. Therefore research on cognitive processes may lack Ecological validity
Real life application
Cognitive approach is probably the dominant approach in psychology today as has been applied to practical and theoretical contexts. For example in the field of artificial intelligence and the development of robots, exciting advances that may revolutionise how we live in the future. Furthermore the cognitive approach has been used to treat depression as depression is a result of negative schemas and treatment has been used to challenged and remove these schemas. Further uses can also be used in Eyewitnesses testimonies.
Less determinist than other approaches
Cognitive approach is founded on soft determinism- it recognises that our cognitive system can only operate within the limits of what we know, but we are free to think before responding to a stimulus. This supports the cognitive approach as it suggests that thoughts are freely chosen but only within the limits of our knowledge and experience.
