Cognitive Approach Evaluation - 06/12/23

Question 1

What does Determinism mean?

Answer 1

The view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped by internal/ external forces rather than an individual’s will to do something

Question 2

What is a deterministic criticism for the psychodynamic approach? [2]

Answer 2

• The psychodynamic approach is criticised for it’s psychic determinism
• This is the belief that behaviours is caused by unconscious conflicts we can’t control

Question 3

What is a deterministic criticism for learning approaches?

Answer 3

• The learning approach is criticised for environmental determinism
• The belief that behaviour is caused by features of environment we can’t control

Question 4

What is a deterministic criticism for the cognitive approach?

Answer 4

• The cognitive approach is founded on soft determinism
• The belief that there is constraints on behaviour, but inside these limitations we are free to make choices

Question 5

Scientific Methods

What is a Strength of Cognitive Approach?

Answer 5

• Cognitive approach has high control and rigorous methods of study to allow psychologists to infer processes
• Lab experiments produce reliable + objective data (Peterson + Peterson)
• High control of variables = cause and effect easily established
• Increases validity of approach

Question 6

Machine Reductionism

What is a Limitation of the Cognitive Approach?

Answer 6

• Approach is too reductionist
• Although similiar between human mind and computer, machine reductionism ignores other influences on human emotion
• Human mind is more complex than a machine

Question 7

Less Deterministic

What is a Strength of Cognitive Approach?

Answer 7

• Cognitive approach is less deterministic than other approach
• Cognitive approach = soft determinism, recognises that cognitive system can only operate within limits of what we know
• Behaviour isn’t controlled by other things - more reasonable

Question 8

What is a Negative of Cognitive Approach?

Answer 8

• Difficult to apply research to real life
• Making inferences about cognitive processes still has subjective judgement about abstract concept (artificial stimuli)
• Research may lack external validity
• Limits fullness of cognitive approach as a whole

Question 9

What is a strength of Cognitive Neuroscience?

Answer 9

• Demonstrates role of experience in shaping the brain
• Brain scans - brain plasticity
• Brain changes and adapts as new experiences. Biology isn’t destiny
• Cognitive neuroscience is less deterministic than other approaches