cognitive approach 2 Flashcards
what are the assumptions of the cognitive approach
-internal mental processes should be studied scientifically (memory, perception, thinking
-processes are private and cannot be observed so psychologists make inferences about what’s going on inside people’s minds based on their behaviour
what are theoretical and computer models used for
they are used to help psychologists understand internal mental processes, there are overlaps between the two however theoretical models are abstract and computer models are more concrete
information processing approach
information flows through cognitive systems in a sequence of stages such as input, storage and retrieval
-it is also known as the multi store model
what is the information processing approach based off
the way computers function, computers would involve actually programming to see if such instructions produce a similar output to humans
-if there is a similar output, we can suggest that similar processes will happen in the human mind
what are schemas
schemas are packages of ideas and information developed through experience, they act as a mental framework for the interpretation of incoming information
schemas through age
-babies are born with very simple motor schema for innate behaviours such as sucking and grasping
-as we get older the schemas develop and become more sophisticated
how are schemas useful
they enable us to process lots of information quickly and prevent us from becoming overwhelmed by environmental stimuli
-however they may distort our interpretations of sensory information
what is cognitive neuroscience and how is it researched
-the study of of influence of brain structures on mental processes
-fMRI and PET scanners have been able to systematically observe and describe neurological basis of mental processes, they can also establish neurological basis of some mental disorders
AO3 scientific and objective methods
-always employed highly controlled and rigorous methods of study in order to enable researchers to infer cognitive processes at work
-involved to the use of lab experiments to produce reliable objective data
-the emergence of cognitive neuroscience has enabled two fields of biology and cognitive psychology to come together
-the study of the mind has established a credible scientific basis
machine reductionism
-the computer analogy has been criticised by many despite the similarities between human mind and computer
-machine reductionism ignores the influence of emotion and motivation on the cognitive system and how this may affect our ability to process information
-research has found that human memory may be affected by emotional factors such as influence of anxiety on eyewitness
application to everyday life
-cognitive psychologists are only able to infer mental processes from behaviour they observe
-it occasionally suffers from being too abstract and theoretical in nature
-experimental studies of mental processes are often carried out using artificial stimuli that may not represent everyday memory experience
-this approach lacks external validity
