Cognitive approach Flashcards
what are the basic assumptions of the cognitive approach?
1 - thought processes can be and should be scientifically studied (introspection is too unspecific)
2 - the mind works like a computer (input-process-output)
3 - stimulus and response is only appropriate if the thought processes that occur between are acknowledged
what was the research conducted by simons and chabris
-studied internal mental processes
-two teams of 3 passed a basketball back and fourth, ps asked to count the number of times the ball was passed
-during this a gorilla or lady with umbrella walked across the screen
-opaque vs transparent videos
-only 54% of observers noticed the gorilla / lady holding an umbrella, more so in the opaque condition
-indicated we seem to miss much of what our visual field sees
-reliable as its been tested again
-lacks mundane realism
what are schemas?
cognitive representations of our ideas about a person or situation, formed through experiences, that allow us to make predictions
what are the theoretical models in relation to the cognitive approach?
explanations of cognition that see thought processes as occurring in a series of distinct steps between a stimulus and a response
what are computer models in relation to the cognitive approach?
an explanation of cognition that sees the mind functioning as an information processing device
what are the similarities and differences of the mind and a computer
-the mind is organic while a computer is metal/plastic
-the mind has unlimited memory while a computer doesn’t
-they both process information
-they both have input (data/senses)
-they both have output (printout/behaviour)
-they both have memory
what is the information-processing model?
a three stage process that cognitive psychologists apply the idea of computational models to the human minds
1 - input (comes from the environment via the senses)
2 - processing (eg schemas)
3 - output (behavioural response)
research on the information processing model
-Baddeley 1966 - coding in STM and LTM
what is cognitive neuroscience?
a discipline that combines several others, notable cognitive psychology, cognitive science and neuroscience
it aims to find a biological basis to thought processes
research on cognitive neuroscience
-Gehrig et al 2000 - irrational thought processes in OCD patients
nature or nurture?
-acknowledges both
-much of our internal processing is innate but the environment produces some of our knowledge
useful?
-yes
-CBT, memory etc
reductionist or holistic?
-reductionist
-focuses only on cognition, experimental reductionism
deterministic or free-will?
-soft deterministic
-humans are pre-programmed to follow certain cognitive processes eg MSMOM
scientific?
-yes
-uses scientific research methods like MRIs, PET scans etc
