cognitive approach Flashcards
what does the cognitive approach look at?
the internal workings of the mind and explains behaviour through cognitive processes
what does cognition mean?
knowing
what kind of research methods do cognitive psychologists use?
- lab experiments
- field experiments
- natural experiments
- case studies
2 assumptions of the cognitive approach
- the mind works in a similar way to a computer - inputting, processing, storing and retrieving data
- focuses on the way humans process information, looking at how we treat information that comes into the person and how this treatment leads to responses
3 general principles of the cognitive approach
- our mental systems have a limited capacity
- a control mechanism oversees all mental processes
- there is a two-way flow of information
THEORETICAL AND COMPUTER MODELS
what is one way used to study mental processes?
through the use of an information processing approach
what is an information processing approach?
suggests that information flows through the cognitive system in stages including input, storage/processing a retrieval, as suggested by the MSM
what are theoretical models?
simplified representations based on research
what are theoretical models based on and why?
inference, since mental processes cannot be directly observed
what are inferences?
when you draw a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning
what are computer models?
comparing the mind to a computer
what do computer models work on the principle of?
input/coding —> storage/processing —> output/response
similarities between the mind and a computer
- processes information
- input (data/senses)
- output (printout/behaviour)
- memory
differences between the mind and a computer
- humans are often influenced by emotional and motivational factors
- humans have an unlimited and unreliable memory, whereas computers have a limited but reliable memory
- humans have free will which computers dont
SCHEMA
what is a schema?
a cognitve framework that helps organise and interpret information in the world around us, based on our beliefs, expectations and experiences
what do schemas act to do?
interpret informatin received by the cognitive system, for example, the schema for a car is a vehicle made of metal with four wheel driven by a person
what does this help with?
helps you respond to the object appropriately, for example, you get in a car to travel somewhere
what happens when information is consistent with a schema?
it is assimilated into the schema, for example, a child’s schema for an apple may be an edible green sphere. every time the child sees a green apple, the experience is assimilated and the schema is strengthened
what happens with information is inconsistent with a schema?
accomodation occurs and the schema has to change in order to resolve the problem. for example, if a child sees a red apple their schema has to accomodate this new information
3 types of schema
- role schemas
- event schemas
- self schemas
what are role schemas?
the ideas about the behaviour which is expected from someone in a certain role, setting or situation. for example, your schema for a doctor may be someone intelligent, sensible, respectable
what are event schemas?
they contain information about what happens in a situation. for example, when you go to a restaurant you’ll need to read a menu and place an order
what are self schemas?
contain information about ourselves based on physical characteristsics, personality, beliefs and values. these can affect how you act
what may be a problem with schemas?
they can stop people from learning new information, for example, prejudice and stereotypes can be an outcome of schemas. schema which holds expectations or beliefs about a certain group of people may bias the way we process incoming information
COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
when did the influence of cognitive neuroscience take hold?
1970s
what is cognitive neuroscience?
an approach in psychology that maps human behaviour to brain function
what techniques are used?
brain-imaging techniques
what do brain-imaging techniques allow psychologists to do?
discover when and where things happen in the brain in relation to people’s behaviour at the time
3 methods cognitive neuroscientists use to study cognition
- lesion studies
- electrophysiology
- neuroimaging
what are lesion studies?
looking at people with brain damage to see how behaviour is affected
what is electrophysiology?
using electric and magnetic fields to measure brain activity and brain wave
what is neuroimaging?
pinpointing areas of the brain which are active when a task is performed
2 strengths of the cognitive approach
- it considers mental processes that are often overlooked in the other approaches
- it has had a big influece on the development of therapies, for example, CBT
2 weaknesses of the cognitive approach
- research is often carried out in artificial situations, e.g., laboratories, computer models, and the role of emotion and influence fom other people is often ignored. therefore, it may not be valid in the real world
- cognitive psychology fails to take individual differences into account by assuming that all of us process information in exactly the same way
