Cognitive Approach Flashcards
What are the three key assumptions of the cognitive approach?
1) thought processes can, and should be, studied scientifically
2) mind works like a computer in that it has an input from our senses, from which it then processes and produces an output (eg specific behaviour)
3) studying stimulus and response is appropriate but only if thought processes that occur in between are acknowledged
What is meant by information processing?
The cognitive approach studies information processing
This means the way we deal with info from the environment/ experiences
Can include selecting info (attention), using info to solve problems (thinking) or storing/ retrieving info (memory)
Why can’t thought processes be studied directly?
They are too abstract/ subjective to be studied directly
Must be studied indirectly and inferences are made about what cognitive processes have occured, based on behaviour
Cognitive psychologists develop theories about different mental processes that cause behaviours
Brewer and Treyens study
Aim to study the effect of pre existing schema on memory
Participants shown into room they believed was the experimenters office, told to wait (30-50 secs)
Once left office asked to write what they could remember
What were the findings of the Brewer and Treyens study?
-most remember schematic objects
-recall items that were unusual/ not in keeping with schema
-things that were not in the room but should have been
Schema can affect what we remember and distort memory if they’re objects not in keeping with the schema
Positives of Brewer & Treyens
Scientific
Highly controlled
Negatives of Brewer and Treyens
Poor ecological validity
Positives of the cognitive approach
Improvement on behaviourism as it acknowledges the role of thoughts
Uses scientific methods such as lab experiments
Led to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Weaknesses of cognitive approach
Low ecological validity as it uses artificial and unrealistic environments
Theoretical models may be too simple
Comparison to computer models may be invalid due to key differences
What is the role of theoretical models?
Simplified representations of the mental processes occurring during certain tasks
Form of diagrams to indicate parts of the mind
Describe the emergence of cognitive neuroscience
Combines several psychological disciplines (mainly cognitive psychology and neuroscience)
Look for biological basis for thought process- may have been outlined by theoretical/ computer models
Describe PET brain mapping technology
Inject radio active substance to detect rates blood flow (associated with brain functions)
Describe fmri brain mapping tech
Is a measurement of metabolic activity
Sensitive to blood oxygenation
What was the aim of the McGuire et al brain scans?
Attempt to demonstrate the plasticity of the brain
Investigate if changes could be seen in brains of London taxi drivers
Look into functions of hippocampus in spatial memory
What is the hippocampus?
Part of the brain thought to be the centre of emotion, memory and autonomic nervous system
