Cognitive approach Flashcards
cognitive approach
understanding behaviour based on internal cognitive processes that underpin behaviour
basic assumptions
thought processes can and should be studied scientifically
mind works like a computer
stimulus and response are appropriate but only if the thought processes that occur between are acknowledged - criticism of behaviourism
research by Simons and Chabris
228 observers shown a film of 3 basket ball players observers were asked to count how many passes were made
in the difficult condition they were asked to keep could of how many passes and how many bounces from player to player
there were two videos, o transparent and an opaque one
half the observers watched a film where a woman with an umbrella walked in and round the players and another where a man in a gorilla suit did the same4 films 2 opaque umbrella woman and gorilla
2 transparent umbrella woman and gorilla
observers were then immediately asked to write their counts on paper they were then asked while you were doing the counting did you notice anything unusual on the video
192 results were used at the end
54% saw the gorilla or umbrella woman
more observers noticed in the opaque condition
shows we miss a lot of what we see in our visual field based on inattention
evaluation:
reliable as experiment has been replicated many times and similar results are found
lack of mundane realism
schema
a collection of ideas about a person or situation formed through experience which helps the individual understand and predict the world around them
theoretical and computer models
used to explain and make inferences about cognitive processes
similarities between a computer and the mind
processes information
input
output
memory
differences
c = metallic/plastic
limited memory
m = organic
unlimited memory
information-processing model
input = from environment via senses and encoded by the individual
processing = info once encoded can be processed like schemas
output = behavioural response, emitted following processing
evaluation
used experimental methods to research = credible
has produced valid descriptions of cognitive processes so treatment can be developed = cognitive theory of depression and CBT
research lacks ecological validity
use of models can oversimplify complex processes
criticised for comparison to computers = seeing epopel as mechanical and lacking free will.
