Cognitive approach Flashcards
what is the cognitive theory
It’s the study of internal mental processes
what does the cognitive theory argue
It argues that our thoughts and feelings affect how we respond
what are internal mental processes
Internal mental processes are private operations of the mind such as perception and attention that mediate between stimulus and response e.g. your thoughts
what is a schema
A schema is a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processes they’re developed from experience e.g. you have a schema for a chair - something with legs that you can sit on
What is a theoretical model
Theoretical models are abstract e.g. memory
What is a computer model
Computer models are concrete things e.g. artificial intelligence
What is cognitive neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience is an approach to psychology that maps out human behaviour to brain function ( combines cognitive and biological research) The evidence for this approach is a variety of research methods:( lesion studies, neuroimaging and electrophysiology explored through modern imaging techniques
What scans are used to look at the brain
EEG - electroencephalogram
PET scans - Positron emission tomography scans
fMRI -Functional magnetic resonance imaging scan
What are some strengths of the cognitive approach
-it uses highly controlled and rigorous methods
-uses scientific equipment
-uses real world application
-lots of empirical evidence from these studies
what are some limitations of the cognitive approach
-may lack external validity
-you can’t prove how important certain parts of the brain is for different activities
- it takes a long time to gather enough evidence to prove what each part of the brain does
