Cognitive Approach ★ Flashcards
The cognitive approach
Is the scientific study of the mind and looks at people as if they were machines.
Basic assumptions
-The brain is like a computer processing info.
-Thought influences behavior.
-Info processing in humans resembles that in computers, and is based on transforming info, storing it, and retrieving it from memory.
-info processing of cognitive processes such as memory and attention assume that mental processes follow a clear sequence.
-they try to understand how we make sense of the world and communicate with it.
-cognitive approach believes that internal processes /mental, can be scientifically studied using experiments.
-Assumes that a meditational process occurs between stimulus/input and response/output.
Information processing
Info processes through same route in all humans: INPUT-PROCESS-OUTPUT, in a similar way to how info is processed in a computer.
People have individual diffs, in their cognitive processing, such as attention, language, thinking, and memory. These can also help explain behavior and emotion.
When playing sport, our senses process info about other team members, and the ball… These are….
Input elements of cognition.
All sensory information is then processed in the brain with the prefrontal cortex to make decisions about necessary actions (memory helps this)- This is the…
process
As a consequence of an input and process we move, respond, act in an appropriate way, this is the…
OUTPUT
BEHAVIORIST MODEL
only studies external:
stimulus in environment–>black box(cant be studied)–>response behavior
COGNITIVE PROCESS
can scientifically study internal behavior:
INPUT (environment)»Meditational process (mental event)»Output behavior
HISTORY
-Wilhelm Wundt (1879): first lab in Leipzig, Germany.
-Psychology is the study of immediate experience.
-Main method used in lab was introspection (a form of self observation)
THE COGNITIVE REVOLUTION
-George Miller (1956) seminar in USA (Newell and Simon, Chomsky)
-modern cognitive psychology dated to this event
-Broadbent in UK
-Info-processing models of cognition
-Communication tech of time
-Tech developed: Science of how people behave intelligently in world also developed.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The science and engineering of making intelligent machines and computer programs.
-Alan Turing (1950s):code breaking during WWII using enigma machines.
-computers would be programmed to acquire abilities which rivaled human intelligence.
-Imitation Game: human being and AI questioned under same conditions without question knowing who is who.
-Turing test
STRENGTHS
-highly controlled and rigorous methods of study in order to enable researchers to infer cognitive processes at work.
-lab exps produce reliable objective data.
WEAKNESSES
-Tends to ignore biology and genetic influences (reductionist).
-Provides a mechanistic view of human behavior.
-Narrow focus on mental processes.
-E.g computer analogies put focus on logical aspects.
-Lab exps have low ecological validity.
-Tends to ignore emotional, creative, social aspects, using more quantitative measures.
DIFFERENCE TO BIOLOGICAL APPROACH
While the biological approach emphasizes the physiological and neurological aspects, the cognitive approach focuses on cognitive processes and subjective experiences.
WEAKNESSES CONTINUED
-most dominant approach in psychology today and has been applied to a wide range of practical programs and theoretical contexts.
-Can help those with cognitive issues
-Increases our understanding of other species cognitive abilities
-Explanations are based at a function, psychological level compared to physiological approach.
-Cognitive behavioral therapy-depression, (Beck, 1994)
Prosopagnosia
Prosopagnosia is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces. Prosopagnosia is also known as face blindness or facial agnosia.
The brain is said to be infinitely…
more powerful and flexible than the most advanced computer.
4 Cognitive processes-Attention.
Sensory info is only retained if we pay attention to it. This involves filtering out info unneeded, to focus our limited resources in most currently necessary info.
Boredom is…
A state of low cognitive arousal where we find it hard to pay attention to the outside world and sometimes pay greater attention to internally generated thoughts (daydreams):
4 Cognitive processes-Language
Humans differ from other animals by having complex lang.
Used to communicate, encode new incoming info inputs, store info in a verbal form and in images.
Many experience an inner voice-allowed them to verbalize thoughts, meaning our use of language affects perception, memory, and conscious thought.
4 Cognitive processes-Thinking
Much of our cognitive processing occurs automatically + outside of conscious awareness.-fast and effortless.
-Kahneman 2011 refers to this as system 1 thinking, explaining it can lead to errors as we do not always use all available info, but instead heavily rely on what we think we know based on stored knowledge and past experiences.
-System 2 thinking is more logical, makes use of all available info to reach a decision and is more effortful. Unfortunately, we do not always use this sort of thinking.
4 Cognitive processes-Memory
Involves 3 cognitive processes: encoding, storage, and retrieval (Squire, 2009).
Info may be encoded (represented in mind) in diff ways relating to visuals, acoustics and or how its associated with other stored knowledge(semantics).
If we do not pay attention, STM may only be stored for a few secs, compared to up to 3 secs when paying attention.
4 Cognitive processes-Memory-continued
Atkinsons and Shiffrin’s 1968 model of multistore memory suggests that info will only be stored LT if we consciously link that info with stored knowledge from LTM. -elaborative rehearsal.
However, it is now accepted that much of our memory is incidental, meaning info can be stored LT without conscious effort. This is seen in Andrade’s doodling study, which relates to effort, accessibility, and memory retrieval.
METHODOLOGY
While individual differences are always present, cognitive psychologists often use lab exps to test theories about memory, attention, and language.
Like bio psychologists, they tend to favor quantitative data. They may ask some sort of standardized task to see the capacity of info processing or how long they can remember without the opportunity to rehearse (duration).
-e.g dichotic listening tasks