KA - 4 Cognitive Approach

Question 1

assumptions of the cognitive approach

Answer 1

• all behaviour is due to internal mental processes
• THINKING DRIVES BEHAVIOUR
• depression is caused by faulty thinking

Question 2

what are computer models

Answer 2

humans work through a process of stimulus -> mediator -> response (computer = input -> process -> output)
- ignores the role of emotion and motivation - machine reductionism

Question 3

what is the multi-store memory model

Answer 3

it is an information processing model

Question 4

what is an inference

Answer 4

making an assumption based on the available evidence as cognition is internal so it cannot be observed

Question 5

limitation of interference

Answer 5

can lead to errors in judgement

Question 6

what is a schema

Answer 6

an internal package of ideas that develop from experience
- start out basic then become sophisticated
- acts as a mental short cut that helps you interpret the world
- helps ensure you don’t get overwhelmed

Question 7

what is cognitive neuroscience

Answer 7

the scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes

Question 8

what does cognitive neuroscience do

Answer 8

map areas of the brain for observation by using MRIs, CAT scans

Question 9

example of cognitive neuroscience application

Answer 9

Paul Broca identified how to damage an area of the frontal lobe to impair speech production (frontal lobe is now Broca’s area)

Question 10

strengths of the cognitive approach

Answer 10

• research can be scientific like MRIs and brain scans
• has practical application like the development of AI
• takes a soft-determinism stand on free will vs determinism

Question 11

limitations of the cognitive approach

Answer 11

• uses models to explain internal mental processes which ignore emotion - machine reductionism
• brain scans can be difficult to understand and ignore emotion
• inferences can be easily be misunderstood