Cognitive Approach

Question 1

Cognitive approach assumptions

Answer 1

1. Internal mental processes = influence behaviour
2. Internal mental processes = study scientifically

Question 2

Role of schemas in mental processing

Answer 2

= Mental framework of beliefs/ expectations, influence cognitive processing, developed through past experiences and culture
- act as shortcuts which facilitate the quick processing of information/stop brain being overwhelmed by environmental stimulation
- unique to individual

Question 3

Use of theoretical and computer models

Answer 3

Cognitive psychologists use to understand internal mental processes, models used to provide testable theories about mental processes

e.g. MSM of memory
= demonstrate flow/processing of info through stages
e.g. ‘computer analogy’
= mind works like computer; encodes/codes, stores and outputs info

Question 4

What is Cognitive neuroscience

Answer 4

concerned with study of biological processes/underlying aspects that underlie cognition, investigates neural basis of cognition and mental processes

Question 5

Pros of Cognitive Approach

Answer 5

• IRL app.
  = increased understanding of human behaviour and providing treatment
  e.g. through Broca, Maguire (2000), Gage
  = increase value
• Use of controlled lab conditions
  = easily replicable and able to support/disprove

Question 6

Cons of Cognitive Approach

Answer 6

• Low ecological validity
  = due to use of lab studies
• Cognitive Neuroscience studies
  = low population validity
  = decrease external validity
• Machine reductionist
  = simplifies complex human behaviours to that of computers, which are fundamentally very different
  = weaken validity

Question 7

Outline studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Answer 7

Broca
= Patient ‘Tan, discovered Broca’s Area and Broca’s Aphasia due to lesion in left frontal lobe
= shows Broca’s area responsible for speech production

Gage
= suffered explosion which caused iron rod to go through face and brain, most damage in frontal lobe, which led to increased aggression, crudeness and profanity
= shows frontal lobe largely responsible for personality

Maguire
= tested male London Cab drivers against non cab drivers, discovered increased posterior hippocampus which increased spatial navigation/awareness skills in taxi drivers
= shows plasticity of brain

Question 8

What are internal mental processes

Answer 8

e.g.
Memory
Thinking
Attention
Perception
Language

cannot be directly observed*