Cognitive approach

Question 1

Cognitive approach

Answer 1

This approach focuses on how our mental processes affect our behaviour
- Internal mental processes should be studied scientifically
- Studies memory, perception and thinking
- These processes are private and can’t be observed so psychologists study them indirectly by making inferences

Question 2

Role of schema

Answer 2

Schema = packages of ideas and information developed through experience
- Act as a mental framework for the interpretation of incoming information
- Babies are born with simple motor schema for innate behaviours such as grasping and sucking
- As we get older schema becomes more detailed and sophisticated - adults have developed mental representations for everything
- Schema is a mental shortcut that prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli
- Processes info quickly
- But schema may also distort our interpretations of sensory information

Question 3

Theoretical models

Answer 3

• Used to study internal processes
• One model is the info processing approach - suggests the brain processes info in a systematic, linear way
• Provides diagrammatic representations of steps involved
• e.g Multi store model

Question 4

Computer models

Answer 4

• Computer analogy - suggests brain works like a computer with input, storage and output
• Computer models are software programmes that simulate our cognitive processes
• Have produced AI

Question 5

Similarities + Differences of models

Answer 5

Similarities:
- Both take data from outside and codes it
- Both capable of storage
- Both have the capacity to work on material i.e transform it in some way

Differences:
- Computer coding is not affected by emotions (e.g effects of anxiety)
- Computer code has been directly inputted but humans add meaning to the input they receive through the senses e.g perception + interpretation

Question 6

Emergence of cognitive neuroscience

Answer 6

• CN is the scientific study of the influence of brain structure on mental processes
• e.g Broca’s area was discovered in the frontal lobe - if damaged can result in permanent damaged speech production
• Advances of brain imaging techniques - fMRIs and PET scans - scientists have been able to observe and describe neurological basis of mental processes
• Scanning techniques have also been useful in establishing the neurological basis of some mental disorders

Question 7

Cognitive approach - evaluation - Strength

Answer 7

• Real world application
• Cognitive approach is probably the dominant approach in psychology today
• It has been applied to a wide range of practical and theoretical contexts
• e.g important contribution in artificial intelligence, the treatment of depression and improving the reliability of eyewitness testimony
• supports value of cognitive approach

Question 8

Cognitive approach - evaluation - limitation

Answer 8

• Based on machine reductionism
• these are similarities between the human mind and the operations of a computer
• the computer analogy has been criticised
• machine reductionism ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system + how this may affect our ability to process info
• machine reductionism may weaken the validity of the cognitive approach