Cognitive approach

Question 1

Cognitive approach

Answer 1

How our mental processes(for example, thpughts, perceptions, attention) affect behaviour

Question 2

The assumptions of the cognitive approach

Answer 2

1. Our mental systems have a limited capacity: The amount of information that can be processed will be influenced by how demanding the task is and how much other information is processed.
2. A control mechanism oversees all mental processes:
   . This will require more processing power for new tasks, leaving less available for everything else.
3. There is a two way flow of information: We take in information from the world, process it and react to i. We also use our knowledge and experiences to u derstand the world.

Question 3

Three main research methods used

Answer 3

1. Laboratory experiments - very scientific and reliable
2. Field experiments - taking place in a natural situation
3. Natural experiments - making observations in a naturally occurring situation

Question 4

Information Processing Model

Answer 4

Input:Processing:Output

Question 5

Information Processing Model features

Answer 5

Used to explain mental processes.
Used to make inferences(intelligent guesses) about mental processes.
Compares a human to a computer

Question 6

Role of schema

Answer 6

A package of ideas and information developed through experience. Helps you to organise and interpret information and experiences, with schema affecting behaviour.

Question 7

When information is consistent with a schema?

Answer 7

It’s assimilated into the schema - experience is assimilated and schema is strengthened

Question 8

When information is inconsistent with a schema

Answer 8

Accommodation occurs - the scheme has to change in order to resolve the problem

Question 9

Different types of schema

Answer 9

1. Role schema
2. Event schemas
3. Self schemas

Question 10

Role schemas

Answer 10

These are ideas about the behaviour which is expected from someone in a certain role, setting or situation

Question 11

Event schemas-

Answer 11

These are also called scripts. They contain information about what happens in a situation

Question 12

Self schemas

Answer 12

These contain information about ourselves based on physical characteristics and personality, as well as beliefs and values

Question 13

Bartlett method

Answer 13

1. English participants were asked to read a Native American folk tale, called ‘The War of the Ghosts’.
2. It was an unfamiliar story, full of strange and unusual names, ideas and objects. It also had a different structure to an average English story.
3. The participants were asked to recall the story after different lengths of time.

Question 14

Bartlett(1932) The War of the Ghosts results

Answer 14

1. All of the participants changed the story to fit their own schemas.
2. The details in the story became more ‘English’, the story started to contain elements of English culture and details and emotions were added.
3. As the length of time between hearing and recalling the story increases, the amount of information remembered decreased.

Question 15

Bartlett(1932) conclusion

Answer 15

People use their own schemas to help interpret and remember the world aroind them.

Question 16

Bartlett evaluation

Answer 16

This study was conducted in a laboratory, so it lacks ecological validity.
But it was highly influential at the time as it paved the way for further cognitive research.

Question 17

Schema problems

Answer 17

Schemas can stop people from learning new information.
Prejudice and stereotypes can be an outcome of schemas.
Schemas which hold expectations or beliefs about a certain subgroup of people may bias the way we process incoming information.
This can lead to faulty conclusions and unhelpful behaviour.
Can lead to perception errors.

Question 18

Methods involved in brain scanning

Answer 18

1. Lesion studies
2. Electrophysiology
3. Neuroimaging

Question 19

Lesion studies-

Answer 19

See if brain damage changes behaviour, by removing parts of the brain(normally rats and mice)

Question 20

Electrophysiology-

Answer 20

Using electric and magnetic fields to measure brain activity and brain waves

Question 21

Neuroimaging

Answer 21

Pinpointing areas of the brain which are active when a task is performed

Question 22

Corpus Callosum:

Answer 22

Bridge between the two sides of the brain.
Integrates motor, sensory and cognitive performance

Question 23

Thalamus-

Answer 23

Senses except smell

Question 24

Front lobe-

Answer 24

behaviour, language Personality

Question 25

Hypothalamus

Answer 25

Homeostasis

Question 26

Hippocampus:

Answer 26

Regulates emotions, learning and memory

Question 27

Amygdala:

Answer 27

Processes emotions

Question 28

Pituitary gland:

Answer 28

Produces and releases hormones

Question 29

Medulla oblongata and brain stem:

Answer 29

Unconscious brain
Controls heart rate, breathing, swallowing

Question 30

Cerebellum:

Answer 30

Co-ordination balance

Question 31

Pineal gland

Answer 31

Releases melatonin(sleep/wake cycle)

Question 32

Tulving et al

Answer 32

Using PET and fMRI scans, Tulving et al(1994) systematically observed neurological basis in mental processing.
Tasks involving episodic(personal memory store) and semantic(knowledge of the world store) memory may be located at different sides of the pre-frontal cortex.
Left side - involved in recalling semantic memories
Right side - involved in recalling episodic memories