cognitive approach Flashcards
what is schema
This most basic understanding of the world.
We use the connections and interactions between Schema to understand and respond to situations.
They allow us to predict what may happen and are based on previous experience
Schemas are unique to the individual and the experiences they have had
who established the 5 themes within Cognitive Psychology
Von Eckardt (1993)
what were these 5 themes
Cognitions can be isolated the studied
The individual and their environment alone
determines behavior
We have automatic cognitive processes
Abnormality is a different style of cognition
Cognitions are typical and generalizable, so we can model these.
Cognitions can be isolated and studied separately meaning
The cognitive approach tries to be scientific, objective and is one of the more empirically focused approaches in Psychology.
This approach tries, through research studies, to identify and isolate unique processes
The assumption is that if we break down human thought into measurable pieces, bit by bit, we’d be able to understand what is going on inside the ‘black box’
we tend to use a computational analogy when looking at most cognitions.
what is an example of using computational analogy when looking at cognitions
there are inputs followed by measurable processes.
Consider the multistore model of memory – it is a copy of how a computer functions
Encoding in the STM
Storage in the LTM
Retrieval between the two stores
The individual and their environment alone determines behaviour meaning
This approach rejects the idea that we learn solely through conditioning
This approach rejects the idea that thoughts are driven by neurochemical processes and suggests that the neurochemistry may be a replication of cognitive processes
what are the 3 steps this has to explaining behaviors (still part of the above flashcard)
Inputs – we receive sensory information
Mediational processes – we consider and think about this sensory information, and decide how to act
Output – once our thoughts are clear we carry out the simple behaviors needed
what is a good example of ‘the individual and their environment alone determines behavior’ (think depression)
the ABC model of Ellis, when he uses our experience of environmental stimuli to explain why some people suffer from depression and other do not.
Activating event [Sensory input]
Belief [Mediational process]
Consequence [Behaviour]
We have automatic cognitive processes meaning
The cognitive processes that humans experience are not always considered consciously- some things so happen so fast as its automatic and we don’t need time for decision making
an example to use (not necessarily a flashcard but just know this specific example)
inside the working memory we are not consciously aware of the allocation of resources by the central executive, and we’re not always able to control them. How many times have you been sidetracked by an ‘earworm’ [part of a tune repeating in your head].
Abnormality is a different style of cognition meaning
This is the most useful aspect of the Cognitive approach. They argue that we can identify, and correct, abnormal cognitive processes.
Abnormal people suffer from distorted or maladaptive thoughts
We can treat these using cognitive restructuring- how CBT works
you must identify the maladaptive cognitive processes and then through thought catching we can train people to be more critical of their own cognitions. Leading to better, healthier, behaviours.
Cognitions are typical and generalizable, so we can model these
meaning
This is what we call a ‘Nomothetic’ approach to psychology. It is the idea that if we can measure these processes accurately, and reliably. Then we can produce models of cognition that apply universally to everyone
From here we can draw out models of how cognitions should work and identify those who suffer from faulty cognitions.
what are some good examples of these
the models of memory are a good example of this. There are lots of models used by the biological approach who see the three processes of input, mediation, and output as vital to all human interaction.
what is cognitive neuroscience
process of mapping cognitive processes to physical structures in the brain
the link between biological structures and cognitive processes
what were the origins of cognitive neuroscience
the discovery that Broca’s area is linked to speech production
