cognitive approach Flashcards
what are the assumptions of the cognitive approach
internal mental processes ca and should be studied scientifically
investigated areas ignored by behaviourists
processes are private and cant be observed- study them indirectly by making inferences about what is going inside peoples minds on basis of behaviour
what is the role of the schema
cognitive processes can be affected by a persons beliefs of expectations- schema
packages of ideas and info developed throug experience
act as mental framework for interpretation of incomin info received by cognitive system
babies born with simple motor schema for innate behaviours
as we get older schema becomes more detailed and sophisticated
adults developed mental representation for everything
enables us to process lots of info quickly- useful as sort of mental shortcut prevents from getting overwhelmed by environmental stimuli
may distort interpretations of sensory info- leads to perceptual errors
what is theoretical and computer models
help them understand internal mental processes
theoretical models abstract computer models are concrete things
theoretical model- information processing approach- info flows through cognitive system in sequence of stages, input storage and retrieval,
info processing approach based on way computers function
computer model- programming computer to see if instructions produce similar output to humans- similar processes going on in human mind
computer model- liken mind to computers
what is the emergence of cognitive neuroscience
scientific study of inflience of brain structures on mental processes
broca-identifiewd how damage to area of frontal lobe permanently impair speech production
fmri and pet scans scientists able to systematically observe and describe neurological basis of mental processes
buckner and peterson-able to show how different types long term memory locayed on opposite sides of prefrontal cortex
system in overall charge of working memory (central executive) thought to be in sikilar areas
scanning techniques- improved basis neurlogical basis of some mental disorders
focus- expanded to include use computer generated models designed to read the brain- development of mind mapping techniques known as brain fingerprinting
what is scientific methods (eval)
uses objective scientific methods
employ highly controlled and rigorous methods of study researchers able to infer cognitive processes at work
use of lab studies produce reliable objective data
emergence cognitive neuroscience enables two fields of biology and cognitive psychology to come together and enhance scientific basis of study
study of mind credible scientific basis
relies on inference of mental processes rather than direct observation
suffer from being too abstract and theoretical in nature
research studies of mental processes carried out using artifical stimuli
may not represent everyday experience
research on cognitive processes may lack external alidity
what is real world application
practical application
dominant approach in psychology today and applied to wide range of practical and theoretical contexts
advances that may revolutionise how we live in the future
cogniitve principles applied to treatment of depression and improved reliability of eyewitness testimony
supports value of cognitive approach
what is machine redutionism
based on machine reductionism
similiarities between mind and operations of thinking machine
ignores influence of human emotion and motivation on cognitive system and how may affect ability to process info
research found human memory may be affected by emotional factors
suggests machine reductionism may weaken the validity of congnitive approach
