Cognitive Approach

Question 1

Main assumptions of cognitive approach

Answer 1

• thought processes CAUSE behaviour
• thought processes can and should be studied SCIENTIFICALLY
• mind works like a COMPUTER
• need to understand thought processes that occur between stitmulus and environment and response

Question 2

How do we study thought processes scientifically?

Answer 2

• make inferences about whats going on inside persons mind
• self report method subjective

Question 3

How do we study internal mental processes?

Answer 3

1. Psychologists propose theory
2. Create theoretical models
3. Test model using lab exp
4. Make inferences on mental processes based on result

Question 4

What is the role of schemas?

Answer 4

• helps us process lots of info quickly
• can distort unique version reality and lead to errors
• can share some schemas as influenced by culture

Question 5

What are the theoretical and computer models?

Answer 5

• where use models to explain and make inferences about mental processes like the multi store model
• simplistic- don’t account for behaviour
• allows us tot have easy explanation for it

Question 6

What is the information processing model?

Answer 6

Where cognitive psychologists explain internal processes as through info processing model. Suggests info flows through series of stages

Question 7

How is the mind like a computer?

Answer 7

Input -> Processes -> Output

Question 8

Strength of cognitive approach

Answer 8

P- therapies developed by assumption mental processes cause behav
E- CBT found to be successful, thought processes must have impact on behav
L- real world app, practical value, valid

Question 9

Limitation of cognitive approach

Answer 9

P- reductionist
E- human behav is same as computer
E- but its complex- multi store doesn’t explain memory since too simple
L- cannot fully explain human behaviour
C- gives evidence why CBT doesn’t work for everyone

Question 10

Supporting research

Answer 10

Allport and Postman: cartoon of black man and white man shouting at him- p’s said black man done something wrong. Shows schemas and stereotypes influenced by culture. OUTDATED
Bugelski and Alampay: sequence of photos faces or animals- p’s saw figure of man or rat. Due to expectations and schemas influencing interpretation and recall