Cognitive Approaches

Question 1

What are the main assumptions of the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

• focuses on how our mental processes (thoughts, perceptions, attention) affect behavior
• argue that internal mental processes can, and should, be studied scientifically. Processes are private though and can not be observed so they are studied indirectly by making inferences about what is going on inside peoples minds

Question 2

Outline the theoretical and computer models

Answer 2

information processing model - suggests that information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages that include input, storage, retrieval

Computer models - where the mind is compared by suggesting there are similarities in the way information is processed. E.g brain as central processing unit, involvement of coding and stores. (Useful in development of AI)

Question 3

Outline the role of schema

Answer 3

• schema are packages of information and ideas developed through experience
• they act as a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing
• become useful as we get older due to us having a mental representation of of everything which enables us to to process lots of information quickly (mental short cut) and prevents us from becoming overwhelmed by environmental stimuli

Question 4

What is cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 4

The scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes e.g discovery of brocca’s area.

Recent developments in cognitive neuroscience has seen the use of computer generated models that are designed to read the brain. This has lead to the development of mind mapping techniques known as brain finger printing

Question 5

Evaluate the cognitive approach

Answer 5

+ includes highly controlled methods of study needed for researchers to be able to make infer cognitive processes. The use of lab experiments and resulting high reliability has led to biology and cognitive psychology coming together to establish a credible scientific basis

+ adopts a soft determinism approach which is less deterministic than other approaches

• despite there being similarities between the human mind and computers, such machine reductionism ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system e.g anxiety
• has been criticized for being too theoretical and abstract. In addition experimental studies are often carried out with artificial stimuli, reducing external validity