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
METHODOLOGY continued
Correlational research is also used where there is no manipulation of an IV. E.g they might look at whether there is a relationship between 2 measured variables such as bilingualism (proficiency in 2+ diff languages) and executive function (e.g to switch, direct, and maintain attention).-here they might use self report methods.
case studies are used too-to investigate impact of brain damage on cognitive processing and unusual cognition (e.g super-recognizers or prosopagnosia).
EVERYDAY LIFE APPLICATIONS
Recommendations for teachings and learning and learning, improving workplace performance, supporting neurodiverse students and employees, advising police on best way to interview witnesses.
INDIVIDUAL AND SITUATIONAL EXPLANATIONS
Individual differences are explained as people process info i diff ways according to info stored in LTM. Situational factors affect our ability to process info as we have limited cognitive capacity and we may respond differently to diff people due to anxiety or desire to please.
NATURE VS NURTURE
Our genes shape the way our brain develops and can cause differences in the way we process info, but social and cultural experiences can also impact the way we use our cognitive skills and hence how these skills develop over time.
MEMORY
The process by which we retain info about events in the past.
INPUT-MEMORY (encoding, storage, retrieval)-OUTPUT
MEMORY CONTINUED
MEMORY ENCODING
-when info comes into our memory system from sensory input, it needs to be changed into a form the system we can cope with, so that it can be stored.
MEMORY STORAGE
-concerns nature of memory stores (where and how), duration, and capacity, + what kind of info is needed.
MEMORY RETRIEVAL
-refers to getting info out of storage (if we can’t remember it’s because we are unable to retrieve it).
-when asked to retrieve something, diffs between STM or LTM become clear.
IN the Atkinson and Shiffrin model-1968, info passes from store to store in a linear fashion, and has been described as an info processing model (like a computer), with an input, process, output.
MULTISTORE MODEL OF MEMORY
look at book diagram!!!!!
An extremely successful, in terms of amount of research it generated-
But Baddeley and Hitch (1974) claimed the pics of STM is far too simple.
STM holds limited amounts of info for short periods of time with relatively little processing.
It is a unitary system (a single system without any subsystems).
WORKING MEMORY MODEL (Baddeley and hitch, 1974)
look at diagram!!
CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
The boss of working memory and allocates data to subsystems: the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad. It deals with cognitive tasks such as mental arithmetic + prob-solving.
MORE ABOUT MEMORY
-2 different types of working memory can be used at same time, visuo- spatial and auditory
-These are governed by an overall central executive
-Visuo-spatial scratchpad stores and processes info in a visual or spatial form. The vss is used for navigation.
-phonological loop: part of a working memory that deals with spoken + written material. Consists of 2 parts.
-Phonological store (inner ear)-linked to speech perception. Holds info in a speech based form (ie spoken words) for 1-2 s.
-Articulatory control process (inner voice)-linked to speech production- Used to rehearse and store verbal info from the phonological store.
THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE working memory model
-most important component of model
-responsible for monitoring and coordinating operation of slave systems (ie visuospatial sketchpad and phonological loop) and relates them to LTM.
-It decides which info is attended to and which parts of the working memory model to send info to be dealt with.
-It acts more like a system which controls attentional processes rather than a memory store.
ASSISTANTS
The central executive in working memory integrated info from two assistants (phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad) and also drawing on info held in a large database (LTM).
THE PHONOLOGICAL LOOP
Acts as an inner ear and holds info in a speech-based form for 1-2 secs.
-spoken words enter store directly
-written ones must first be converted into an articulatory code before entering.
in the loop that goes to the phonological store there is an articulatory control process.
THE VISUOSPATIAL SCRATCHPAD
BADDELEY 1986 Company concept
Uses company analogy to describe way central executive operates.-a company boss
-makes decisions about which issues deserve attention and which should be ignored.
-Also selects strategies for dealing with problems, but like any person, the boss can only deal with limited number of things at a time.
-Collects info from different sources.
