Cognitive psychology

Question 1

Main assumptions

Answer 1

-mind works like a computer- our internal mental processes, extract, store and retrieve info to help guide behaviour
-behaviour influenced by unconscious and conscious thoughts
-inferences are made on observed behaviour
-internal processes can be studied scientifically and objectively
-models should be used to demonstrate function of mental processes

Question 1

What is our behaviour determined by

Answer 1

the way we process info

Question 2

perception

Answer 2

the process by which we take in and make sense of info from the environment

Question 3

attention

Answer 3

the process by which we focus on particular sources of information rather than others and maintain this over time

Question 4

memory

Answer 4

the process by which we retain and recall info

Question 5

Language

Answer 5

use of mental symbols to represent info in the mind, helping thinking and communication between people

Question 6

thinking

Answer 6

process by which we manipulate info in the mind in order to reason, solve problems, make decisions and judgements

Question 7

inference

Answer 7

act of drawing conclusions from evidence and using reasoning to assume how somethings working

Question 8

example of how cognitive approach makes inferencees about how memory is structured/ works through peformance in experiments

Answer 8

capacity of short term memory test, recall list of items, n of words used to infer capacity of STM

Question 9

negatives about studying internal mental processes

Answer 9

• inference may not be correct, only assumptions
  -possible low ecological validity
  (not reflect normal processes as its in a lab)
  -not reflect normal memory as its designed to operationalise
  (make something measurable) a part of the memory

Question 10

what are schema

Answer 10

“packages” of ideas and information developed through experience
-act as mental framework for the interpretation of incoming information received by cognitive system

Question 11

how do schema form

Answer 11

through experiences and aid in making future predictions of events, they are subjective

Question 12

four steps to assimilating a schema

Answer 12

1. we have to pay attention to it
2. we have to perceive its features
3. we have to search our memory store to see if it matches existing schema
4. we have to name it using our language

Question 13

negative consequences of schemas

Answer 13

-stereotypes
-focus on things which confirm pre-existing beliefs
-see what we want to see, remember only selected/ baised versions of events

Question 14

internal mental processes

Answer 14

operations that occur in the mind, but can be studied scientifically, known as mediational processes as they occur between stimulus and response

Question 15

inference

Answer 15

the process whereby cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about how mental process operate on the basis of observed behaviour

Question 16

cognitive neuroscience

Answer 16

the scientific study of those biological structures that underpin cognitive processes

Question 17

theoretical models

Answer 17

models which depict a series of stages and explain the stages of mental processes e.g. flow diagram

Question 18

computer models

Answer 18

using a computer to construct programmes that mimic/ simulate how internal processes are working

Question 19

name one important theoretical model

Answer 19

information processing approach

Question 20

what has lead to cognitive neuroscience

Answer 20

advancement of technology

Question 21

examples of neuroimaging techniques

Answer 21

PET scans, MRI

Question 22

benefit of neuroimaging

Answer 22

-match certain parts of the brain to certain disorders e.g. paraphippocampal gyrus and OCD

Question 23

brain fingerprinting

Answer 23

mind mapping technique which analyses brain wave patterns

Question 24

what is brain fingerprinting used for

Answer 24

analyse the brain wave patterns of eyewitnesses to determine weather they’re lying in court - cognitive interview

Question 25

strength of cognitive approach (science)

Answer 25

it uses objective scientific methods
-objective methods so scientists can infer cognitive processes

Question 26

strength of cognitive approach (link between approaches)

Answer 26

-links cognition and biology so study of mind has credible scientific basis

Question 27

weakness of scientific methods as a strength to the cognitive approach

Answer 27

-relies on the inference of mental process rather than direct observation
-research studies using artificial stimuli (e.g. memory tests) lacks external validity

Question 28

strength of cognitive approach (application)

Answer 28

-made important contributions in the field of AI
-applied to treatment of depression (cognitive behavioural therapy)
-improve reliability of eyewitness testimony

Question 29

weakness of cognitive approach (machine)

Answer 29

-machine reductionism
-ignores influence of human emotion and motivation on cognitive system e.g. anxiety of eyewitness
-weaken validity

Question 30

strength of cognitive approach (determinism)

Answer 30

-founded on soft determinism (view that human behaviour may be determined by internal and external factors but also our free will)

Question 31

strength of cognitive approach (reductionist)

Answer 31

-hesitation to asset reductionist explanation of mental processes
-consciousness, memory and perception not reducible to biological outcomes