Cognitive approach Flashcards
What are the basic assumptions of the cognitive approach?
- thought processes can/should be studied scientifically and in labs
- The mind works like a computer it has an input from our senses and an output such as language/behaviour
- Stimulus and response is appropriate only if the thought processes that occur between the stimulus and response are acknowledged
what is a schema?
A mental framework that incorporates our ideas about a person/situation
Allows to process information quickly and take shortcuts when interpreting a huge amount of data
How can we study internal mental processes?
Theoretical models
what are the theoretical models?
Models are theories that can be represented as diagrams
can be used to provide testable hypothesis about mental processing
what is the computer analogy?
suggests that the human mind is like a computer
input > processing> output
How does the computer differ from the human brain?
- Receives ALL imput
- Cannot lose information
- Can delete information
- Emotionless
what are limitations of the use of theoretical/computer models to explain mental processes?
Oversimplistic
Deterministic
evaluate oversimplistic as a limitation of the computer analogy
- oversimplistic
- compare humans to computers which ignores individual differences and the role of emotion in behaviour. Considered machine reductionism the belief that human functions are the result of units of activity and information processing systems
- limitations as many believe that explaining behavioural processes in this way overlooks the complexity of human behaviour and doesn’t provide an adequate explanation
evaluate determinism as a limitation of a computer analogy?
- determinist view on behaviour
- Comparing people to computers and seeing them as mechanic suggest human lack free world to control their own behaviour and can’t be held responsible for their actions
- Limitations as many disagree with this and believe humans have the ability to use free well to act in a unique/unpredictable fashion
What is cognitive neuroscience?
Scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes
What practical applications does cognitive neuroscience have?
lead to the development of F MRIs and PET scans
Evaluate the use of PET scans as a strength of cognitive neuroscience
- used PET scans to test LTM
- Tulving et al conducted a lab experiment where ppts did different memory tasks and used a PET scan to determine which parts of the brain they were using. Tasks that use semantic memory used to left side of the prefrontal cortex and those who used episodic memory used the right.
- Evidence that romantic episode memory of two separate stores in LTM as they are controlled by different parts of the brain. Therefore PET scans were able to provide evidence for Tulvingd model.
evaluate controversy as a limitation of cognitive neuroscience
- Practical applications can be controversial
- The use of brain fingerprinting for a lie detection in court. This measures brain waves to determine whether specific info is stored in the subject cognitive memory. It was first used in 1999 to gain evidence on a murderer so he could be convicted
- limitation as a cld lead to an over reliance on science without human scrutiny and lead to wrongful convictions
What are strengths of the cognitive approach?
produce successful treatment
Research uses human ppts
Use a scientific method
what is the limitation of the cognitive approach?
Low ecological validity
Evaluate low ecological validity as a limitation of the cognitive approach
-Low ecological validity
- Studies of cognitive psychology use tasks that do not reflect natural everyday experiences, e.g. baddelys experiment into LTM required ppts to recall 10 words they had in the correct order. such experiments use artificial test materials that are meaningless every day life
- Limitation as this research is online to reflect the ppts genuine behaviour the assumptions of the approach may not be valid and may not adequately explain the complexities of real life behaviour
Evaluate successful treatment as a strength of the cognitive approach
- produce a successful treatment
- CBT aim to identify and challenge maladapted thoughts and alter dysfunctional behaviours. This treatment has been found to be effective for treating a range of psychological abnormalities. e.g Holon et al found that you were depressed patient relapse after 12 weeks of CBT then taking drugs
- Strength because it demonstrates the contribution that the cognitive approach has made to psychology and as the treatment is based on the assumptions its effectiveness suggest the approach must be valid
Evaluate the use of human participants as a strength of the cognitive approach
- research mostly use as human participants
- Different to the behaviourist/biological approach research often studies animals
- Strength because it’s possible to generalise results to human behaviour and suggests that the cognitive approach might provide a more valid explanation of human behaviour than other approaches
Evaluate the use of the scientific method as a strength of the cognitive approach
- use a scientific method and assumptions are based on strong empirical evidence
- Approach uses experiment as its main method of investigation providing researches with a rigourous method for understanding how the mind works
- Strength because the assumptions of the approach are based on research that establishes caused and affect and is like to be objective/reliable. Approach therefore has enhanced the scientific status of psychology.
