Cognitive Approach Flashcards
What are the three assumptions of the cognitive approach?
- Internal mental processes
- Schemas
- Computer analogy
What are four examples of internal mental processes?
- Memory
- Attention
- Perception
- Language
Describe memory as an internal mental process
We search our ‘memory’ store to see if there is a ‘match’ with something we have already seen or experianced
SEE Format
Describe internal mental processes
S=This assumption suggests that humans essentialy information procesors
E=Cognitive processes such as memory,language,perception and attention help us to interpret and respond to the environment appropriatly
E=Memory as an example
What are schemas?
Organised packs of information stored in our memory
How are schemas built and how do they expand?
Built through experiances and interactions with the world around us
Expanded as we experiance new things
What is the role of schemas?
As we link concepts together, they help to interpret and react to the environment around us. As well as predict what will happen based on past experiance
What are the three memory stores?
- Sensory
- Short-term
- Long-term
Why can behaviour be explained through a computer analogy?
It compares how we take information (input) store it or change it (process) and then recall it when necessary (output).
What is the therapy of the cognitive assumption?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
What is the aim of cognitive behavioural therapy?
To challenge negative thoughts and replace them with healthy thinking
According to the cognitive approach, what is the cause of mental health disorders?
Faulty process part
What are the components of cognitive behavioural therapy?
- Dysfunctional thought diary
- Cognitive reconstruction
- Pleasant activity scheduling
Four points
Describe the dysfunctional thought diary component of cognitive behavioural therapy
At Home
* Clients keep record of dysfunctional thoughts~includes events which may lead to automatic negative emotions
* Clients then rate how much they believe the thoughts to be true
Within Session
* Clients must then write a rational response to this thought and rate how much they believe this
* Clients then re-rate how much they believe their dysfunctional thought
What is cognitive reconstructuring also known as?
Therapy in therapy
What are the steps involved in cognitive reconstructuring?
- Challenge the thought by asking for evidence supporting it~this highlights false belief
- Therapist would then ask what would happen if the thought was actually true and what they could do in response~avoid catastrophizing automatic negative thoughts
- Ask what could be done to reduce the chance of the thought becoming reality~this results in a rational way of thinking
Three points
Describe pleasant activity scheduling?
- Clients must choose an activty which makes them feel positive
- Client must then keep a record of these activities and how the activities made them feel
- This helps with behavioural activation
What is behavioural activation?
Helping the clients to change their behaviour
What is the expected outcome of pleasant activity scheduling?
Client begins to move away from negative thinking realsing that they can control their negative thinking and maldaptive behaviour
What are the effectiveness strengths and weaknesses of cognitive behavioural therapy?
Strengths~research to support + empowerment
Weaknesses~therapist competence + individual differences
What is the research support for cognitive behavioural therapy?
Jarrett (1999)
CBT effective=Some anti-depressent drugs when treating over 100 patients over 10wk period
Why is research support a strength of cognitive behavioural therapy?
Shows process of challenging negative patterns can help an individual adopt a healthier mindset and reduce mental health symptoms
Why is an example of empowerment in cognitive behavioural therapy?
Pleasant activity scheduling
Why is empowerment a strength of cognitive behavioural therapy?
Could lead to patient becoming more involved,motivated and willing in their care
What is an example of the effect therapist competence has on cognitive behavioural therapy?
Kugken (2009)
15% variance in outcomes of CBT effectiveness due to therapist competence
Why is therapist competence a weakness of cognitive behavioural therapy?
If the therapist does not possess necessary skills ,e.g good communication,this could result in the patient being untreated or further harm
What is a case study of how individual differences affect cognitive behavioural therapy?
Simons(1995)
CBT less suitable for people with high levels of irrational belief that are resisant to change
Why is individual differnces a weakness of cognitive behavioural therapy?
The therapy heavily relys on a patient’s willingness which can be very difficult for vulnerable people
What are the ethical issues of cognitive behavioural therapy?
Patient blame and psychological harm
What is the classical research for the cognitive approach?
Loftus and Plamer
Why did Loftus and Palmer choose to see how leading question affect the accuracy of speed estimates?
To determine if different words can change a person’s memory
What is a leading question?
A question that,either by its form or content,suggests to the witness what answer is desired or leads them to the desired answer
What was the aim of Loftus and Palmer’s first experiment?
To see if the speed estimates were influenced by the verbs in the question asked
What was the aim of Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment?
To investigate whether leading question simply bias a person’s response or actually alter the memory that is stored
What is the methodology of Loftus and Palmer’s first experiment?
- Research method=lab experiment
- Experimental design=independent groups
- Sample=45 students
- Sampling method=Opportunity sampling
What was the procedure of Loftus and Palmer’s first experiment?
- 45 students split into 5 groups(9 in each)
- All groups shown same 7 short video clips
- P’s filled in short question~with filler question and the critcial question
- The verbs were hit,smashed,collided,bumped and contacted
What was the critical question in Loftus and Palmer’s first experiment?
“About how fast were the cars going when they ____ each other?
What were the mean speed estimates for each verb in Loftus and Palmer’s first experiment?
- Smashed~40.8s
- Collided~39.3s
- Bumped~38.1
- Hit~34.0s
- Contacted~31.8
Two points
What were the conclusions made from Loftus and Palmer’s first experiment?
- Response bias=different estimates occured due to leading Q influneced/biased P’s response
- Memory is altered=Results due to critical word changing
What’s the methodology of Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment?
- Research method=Lab experiment
- Experimental design=Independent groups
- Sample=150 students
- Sampling method=Opportunity
What was the procedure used in Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment?
- 150 students split into 3 groups(50 in each)
- All shown short film clip which showed a multi-vehicle car accident
- Group 1 asked “How fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other” Group 2 same question but hit was used instead of smashed
- Group 3 was not asked about the speed of the vehicles at all
- A week later all Ps were asked “did you see any broken glass”
What were the findings of Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment?
- Smashed~16 yes 34 no
- Hit~7 yes 43 no
- Control~6 yes 44 no
Ps in ‘smashed’ were 2x likely to report seeing broken glass
Three points
What were the conclusions made from Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment?
- Memory alteration=effect of leading Q not due to response bias but due to memory alteration
- Leading Qs may affect a persons’s memory of an event=the severity of verb altered people’s perception of the severity of the crash
- Leading Qs cause memory to become reconstructed=Ps create an original perception of the event witnessed,leading Q is intergrated into this perception over time,leading to a reconstructed memory of the actual event
What are the methodological strengths and weaknesses of Loftus and Palmer’s experiment?
Strengths~Research method and Experimental design
Weaknesses~Ecological validity and Sample
What’s a drawback of this?
Why was using independent measures a strength of Loftus and Palmer’s research?
Less chance of P’s guessing the aim of the experiment or having order effects as they only experiance one condition
A drawback is that there are participant variables
Give an example of how the experiment was controlled
Why was using a lab experiment a strength of Loftus and Palmer’s research?
Ensured that there were high levels of control=internal validity was high=cause and effect relationship can be establish
e.g P’s all saw the same short video clips
Give examples
What validity issues did Loftus and Palmer’s research?
- Ecological=the findings cant be applied to real life e.g P’s were only shown video clips of a car crash
Give an example on ecological validity
Foster et al. (1994)
If participants watched what they thought to be a real life robbery and were told that their responses would influence the trial, participants would remember more accurately
What are three ethical issues of Loftus and Palmer’s research?
Deception, right to withdraw and informed consent
EXplain the ethical issues of Loftus and Palmer’s research and give examples
- Deception=students weren’t told the true aim of the study leading Q’s on memory
- Right to withdraw=P’s may feel obliged to stay in the experiment even if they want to leave, P’s were students at the Uni loftus was a professor
- Informed consent=students were naive of the true aims of the experiment
What are counterarguements to the ethical issues of Loftus and Palmer’s research?
- Informed consent=retrospective consent could be given after the debrief
- Right to withdraw=P’s were not forced to stay in the experiment and was reminded that they could leave at any time
- Deception=if they aim of the experiment was told this may have lead to demand characteristics
