outline and evaluate the cognitive approach

Question 1

outline

Answer 1

Approach is based on internal mental processes, these are private thoughts in which cognitive psychologists study scientifically to infer cognitive causes for measured behaviour

Introspection can be used to study internal mental processes, participants can be asked to verbalise their thought processes (including their feelings, emotions and sensations), so they can be examined for patterns and trends

schemes - allow us to make cognitive representations of people, places or situations
- developed from prior experience & help us organise and interpret info

• promote cog biases that cause us to ignore info that doesnt fit existing schema > explains develop of prejudice and stereotypes

theoretical and computer models can be used to explain and make inferences about mental processes > believed that info processing in the brain works like a computer

brain acts as a processor - info is taken from senses (input); then coded by the brain (process) to be developed into observable behaviour (output)

Question 2

strength

Answer 2

scientific

uses methods that are controlled and allow for replication

e.g. cognitive neuroscience techniques are used to objectively identify where in the brain diff mental processes occur

as such, PET scans have shown cocaine addicts have reduced activity in frontal lobes, responsible for decision making

by merging fields of biology and cognitive psych together, it means study of mind has established scientific basis

Question 3

strength 2

Answer 3

practical applications - when principles of study can be put into practice outside of lab

e.g. cog approach has been dominant in contributing to develop of CBT which is used to help treat a range of disorders inc depression and anxiety by challenging irrational thoughts so they can have a pos impact on behaviour

strength as it translates well into a successful therapy

Question 4

limit 1

Answer 4

machine reductionist

as perception that the human mind works in a similar way to a computer is simplistic and flawed

e.g. human brain and computers differ dramatically - human minds forgets things and human mental processing is subject to emotion

so, cognitive approach oversimplifies human cognition and ignores important aspects that influence performance

Question 5

limit 2

Answer 5

low external validity

which is when findings of approach cannot be generalised to other settings, wider pops and over time

e.g. cog psychologists are only able to infer processes from behaviour they observe, so approach suffers from being too abstract and theoretical

research often carried out using artificial stimuli which may not represent everyday experience

so, research into cog processes may lack external validity, which causes us to question overall validity of cog approach