Cognitive Psychology in Sec B

Question 1

Describe the assumptions of cognitive psychology.

Answer 1

• focuses on studying our own mental thought processes + so assumes behaviour can be explained in terms of how mind operates, rather than genetic factors
• assumes human behaviour should be studied scientifically using rigorous methodology + that mind works in a similar way to computers: inputting, storing and retrieving data
• types of behaviour studied: memory, attention, language, perception, + moral development.

Question 2

Describe Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).

Answer 2

• common type of mental health counselling (psychotherapy)
• client / patient works with a mental health counsellor / psychotherapist in structured way for limited no of sessions (5-20)
• makes patient aware of innacurate / negative thinking, allows you to view challenging situations clearer + respond to them more effectively
• challenges faulty thinking processes with more rational ways of thinking
• can be used for: sleep / sexual disorders, bipolar / anxiety, phobias, eating / personality disorders.

Question 3

Describe cognitive psychology in the Nature vs Nurture debate. Link to a study.

Answer 3

• cognitive approach takes an interactive approach as it accepts both nature and nurture facts are interconnected + human behaviour is a product of both.

E.g. Loftus + palmer investigate how info learned after an event can affect ones memory of it, so looking at both environmental + dispositional factors.

Question 4

Describe cognitive psychology in the Individual vs Sitiational debate. Link to a study.

Answer 4

• cognitive approach supports both individual + situational side of debate

E.g. Grant et al looked at effect of context (music / none) and the individual (memory ability).

Question 5

Describe cognitive psychology in the Reductionsim vs Holism debate. Link to a study.

Answer 5

E.g. cognitive psychology oversimplifies behaviour + compares us to a computer. Grant et al argues that context affects memory processes, however other factors may have been involved (e.g. Individual diffs in memory ability) so was reductionistic.

Question 6

Describe cognitive psychology in the Usefulness of Research debate. Link to a study.

Answer 6

E.g. Loftus + palmers study = useful as findings of experiment are relevant to diff contexts, e.g. In improving police interview techniques, yet setting was low in ecological validity so findings may be diff to apply outside research setting.

Question 7

Describe cognitive psychology in the Psychology as Science debate.

Answer 7

E.g. Loftus + palmer used a no of controls (e.g, same 7 video clips, same critical q, same verbs) in a standardised procedure + collected quantitative data so supports pscho as a science.

Question 8

State the strengths of the cognitive approach.

Answer 8

• tends to use scientific, rigorous methodology to study human behaviour
• takes into account internal invisible thought processes that affect behaviour, unlike behavioural approach
• provides insight into human mind and how it operates, so has huge implications for society (e.g. If memory so easily manipulated as suggested by L+P, this needs to be taken into account in the law. If court cases rely on eyewitness testimony, we now know this is potentially unreliable)
• V useful + has provided many practical applications (E.g. eyes task in Baron-Cohen can help understand behavioural problems, so findings can be used to help people w/ disorders such as Autism)
• easily combined w/ other approaches e.g. In CBT which is popular + successful as treatment for various disorders

Question 9

State the weaknesses of the cognitive approach.

Answer 9

• lacks validity as cognitive functioning cant be directly observed, so some cognitive processes can only be studied through self-report + observational methods, which are open to social desirability + demand characteristics (E.g. impossible to objectively see ‘theory of mind’ (Baron-Cohen), so can only interpret results subjectively)
• takes a reductionistic approach + tends to over-simplify complex human behaviour, aslo ignores other social + emotional factors that may affect behaviour, so gives a restricted + limited perspective of behaviour
• tends to use highly-controlled lab experiments conducted in artificial settings to observe human behaviour which may lack ecological validity
• doesn’t take into account genetic factors, E.g. heriditary correlations of mental disorders.