Cognitive Approach Flashcards
Give three assumptions about the cognitive approach
Key words: studied, computer, thoughts
- Internal mental processes can and should be studies scientifically e.g. lab studies
- The mind works like a computer (input-processing-output)
- Mental processes (I.e. thoughts) that occur between stimulus and response must be acknowledged
Define inference
Making assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed
Define schema and give an example
A cognitive framework/ a collection of ideas about a person or situation formed through experience
E.g. when we know it’s going to rain later in the day so we take a water proof jacket
How might schemas lead to distortions in perception or memory?
- Focus only on what confirms our pre existing ideas
- Fill in the gals in the absence of full information about a person/ event
- Develop stereotypes
What was the aim of Brewer and Treyens study?
And the procedure?
To study the effect of pre existing schema on memory
( Lab experiment): participants were shown into a room they believed was the experimenters office, after 30-50 seconds they left the room and were asked to write down everything they could remember about the room
What did Brewer and Treyens find from their study?
Most of the participants remembered the schematic objects (items that were in keeping with their pre existing ‘office’ schema e.g. typewriter)
Many recalled items that were not in keeping with their office schema (unexpected items e.g. skull)
Some also recalled things that were not in the room, but should have been e.g. books, telephone
So what was the final conclusion of Brewer and Treyens
Schemas can affect the things we remember and can distort our memory of what we see is not in keeping with the schema
Strengths and weaknesses of Brewer and Treyens study
Strength: under controlled conditions, able to be repeated
Weakness: (ecological validity) the room is set up on purpose, not a natural condition
What is a theoretical model
- Simplified representations of the mental processes occurring during certain tasks e.g. remembering or forgetting info
- Diagrams with boxes to indicate parts of the mind e.g. long term memory
Similarities (3) and differences (4) between the mind and a computer
Similarities: input (data / senses), processes information, output (print/ behaviour)
Differences: mind is organic with unlimited memory, computer is made of metal and plastic and had a limited memory
(Cognitive neuroscience) Outline two methods that could be used to investigate a biological basis for thought processes
PET: the scan captures images of brain activity after radioactive tracers have been absorbed into bloodstream. These tracers attach to compounds e.g. glucose, glucose fuels the brain so active areas of the brain will be utilising glucose at a higher rate than inactive area
fMRI: a brain scanning technique that uses a magnetic field and radio signals to monitor the blood flow in the brain. High activity areas during scanning have a greater blood oxygenation and flow, so specific brain areas can be linked to specific abilities
Outline the Maguire study
The researchers compared MRI scans of 16 male London taxi drivers vs. 50 male non taxi taxi drivers.
They found the hippocampus of the taxi drivers was significantly larger than the non taxi drivers indicating that the hippocampus is associated with navigational tasks and skills.
Strengths and weaknesses of the cognitive approach
Strengths: led to the development of a successful therapy (CBT)
Weaknesses: can be criticised for over simplifying complex processes with the computer analogy, also the cognitive approaches reliance on inference is also a weakness and undermines the validity of the approach
