Cognitive approach KC5: the role of cognitive scripts

Question 1

cognitive scripts

Answer 1

a schema for a series of actions that are performed in a given situation

Question 2

memory scripts

Answer 2

a collection of schemas that contain our knowledge of what to happens in social situations, how we should behave and what the consequences could be. they are stored in memory and so are internal. they are automatically retrieved to guide are behaviour

Question 3

person perception

Answer 3

using information stored in memory to quickly categorise a person we have met for the first time. we mentally place them into a group or ‘type’ of people (often just based on what the person looks or sounds like)

Question 4

what are 3 features of memory scripts?

Answer 4

1. broken down into scenes ordered by time
2. concern multiple goals
3. are influenced by culture

Question 5

name 2 types of ways person perception works?

Answer 5

making assumptions, stereotyping and bias

Question 6

name 1 strength of the role of cognitive scripts

Answer 6

there is research to support

Bower presented participants with routine events (like a morning routine) where the steps were in the ‘wrong’ order. they found that participants tended to recall them in the correct order. this suggests memory scripts influence how we remember information like everyday events

Question 7

name 1 limitation of the role of cognitive scripts

Answer 7

unjustified assumptions about behaviour

one limitation is that we may assume that a cognitive script is guiding behaviour when it may not be. eg, someone eating a meal in a restaurant might be imitating those around them and so following external cues, not an internal memory script. there is the same issue with person perception. eg, ones impression of a stranger may be guided by how others respond to them (external cues) and not by internal information stored in memory. therefore, scripts and internal processes may not always have a significant influence on memory and behaviour.

Question 8

person perception: making assumptions

Answer 8

once we have categorised a ‘new’ person, we fill in the gaps in our knowledge of them with information from memory about that category (even if that information is wrong). our memories contain knowledge of other peoples personalities, especially which characteristics typically go together. eg, if you view someone as outgoing, you also assume they are sociable, confident and popular etc

Question 9

person perception: stereotyping and bias

Answer 9

our knowledge of what characteristics go together can be wrong because it is partly based on stereotypes. we assume the person in front of us is representative of a group- they are ‘this type of person. therefore, person perception is not objectively accurate, but is affected by our own cognitive biases. a danger of this process is that we may later recall information about the person that matches the category we put them in (when this may not be true)