cognitive approach

Question 1

cognitive approach

Answer 1

argues internal mental processes affect our behaviour (e.g. memory, perception, thinking)

• these processes can’t be observed so they study them indirectly by making inferences of whats happening in someones mind based off their behaviour

Question 2

internal mental processes

Answer 2

private operations of the mind (e.g. perception and attention) that mediate between stimulus and response

Question 3

schema

Answer 3

a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing (developed from experience)

• e.g. you have a schema for a chair- you’ve learnt through experience to respond appropriately to the object (sit on it)

Question 4

breifly explain the role of schema

Answer 4

babies are born with simple motor schema for innate behaviours (e.g. sucking an grasping objects)

adults have developed mental representations for everything = detailed schema

schema enables us to process lots of information quickly without getting overwhelmed by environmental stimuli

schema may also distort our interpretations of sensory information leading to perceptual errors

Question 5

briefly explain the use of theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes

Answer 5

theoretical models are abstract VS computer models are concrete things

information processing approach (theoretical): information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages (e.g. MSM)

computer model: involves programming a computer to see if the instructions produce a similar output to humans (useful in AI)

Question 6

briefly explain the emergence of cognitive neuroscience

Answer 6

1860’s Broca: identified how damage to area of the frontal lobe could permanently impair speech production

in last 25yrs: advances in brain imaging techniques (e.g. FMRI & PET scans) enabled scientists to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of cognitive processes
- these have helped establish the neurological basis of some mental disorders

computer generated models in recent years led to development of ‘brain fingerprinting’

Question 7

cognitive neuroscience

Answer 7

the scientific study of the influence of brain/biological structures on mental/cognitive processes

Question 8

give one strength of the cognitive approach

Answer 8

it uses objective and scientific methods
- they use highly controlled study methods so researchers are able to infer cognitive processes at work
- use lab studies (produce reliable and objective data)
- cognitive neuroscience has enabled biology and cognitive psychology to come together to enhance scientific basis of study, meaning that cognitive approach has a credible scientific basis

Question 9

give one limitation of the cognitive approach

Answer 9

it relies on inference of mental processes
- can occasionally suffer from being too abstract and theoretical in nature
- research studies of cognitive processes are often carried out using artificial stimuli (e.g. testing memory by a word list) that doesn’t represent everyday experience
- therefore research on cognitive processes may lack external validity