Paper 2 - Cognitive Approach Flashcards
What is the History of Cognitive Approach
Developed in the 1950s as a response to the failure of behavioural approach to take into account mental processes
Development of the first computers gave cognitive psychologists a metaphor for describing mental processes
Argued that internal mental processes should be studied scientifically
What is the Cognitive Approach
Focused on how our mental processes (thoughts, perception, attention, memory, decision making, problem solving) affect behaviour
Developed in response to the behaviourist’s failure to acknowledge mental processes
Define Internal Mental Process
A private operation of the mind such as perception and attention that mediates between stimulus and response
Based on the outcome, you can infer the internal mental process
Define Inference
A process of studying internal mental processes indirectly by observing people’s behaviours
Define Schema
A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processes
They are developed from experience
Act as a mental framework for the interpretation of incoming information received by the cognitive system
Start of basic and become more complex as we get older
Why are Schemas useful
Enable us to process a lot of information quickly and reduces the cognitive load
Why are Schemas not useful
May lead to perceptual errors as they distant the interpretation of sensory information
May lead to stereotyping
What does the Theoretical Model suggest
Information flows through the human cognitive system in stages (input, storage, retrieval)
Is sequential learning
What does the Computer Model suggest
Draw similarities between the way information in the brain is processed, and if computers can produce similar results
Useful in the development of AI
Define AI
Human intelligence exhibited by machines
What is Cognitive Neuroscience
The scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes
Brain scanning techniques (such as FMRI, PET scans etc.) are used to look at which areas of the brain are responsible for which behaviours and tasks
What are the discoveries of Cognitive Neuroscience
Memory/Understanding Mental Processes-
Research by Buckner & Peterson found that different types of Long-Term Memories are stored on opposite sides of the Prefrontal Cortex using brain scanning techniques
Medicine/Treatments-
Scanning techniques proved useful in establishing the neurological basis of some mental health disorders (e.g. Para Hippocampal Gyrus is involved in OCD). This is useful in devising medicines that affect the targeted areas of the brain for treatment
Law/Justice System-
Produced methods to read the brain (brain fingerprinting). Found in courts where eye witnesses’ brains would be scanned to see if they are lying or not.
Evaluation (STRENGTH) -Scientific and Objective methods
E - Highly controlled methods of study are used to make inferences about how mental processes work. Used laboratory experiments which provide reliable and objective data. Allowed a mixture of Cognitive and Biological methods to enhance the scientific basis of human behaviour
L - Study of the mind has a credible scientific basis
Evaluation (STRENGTH) - Has Real Life Applications
E - Most dominant approach today. Applied to AI and robots both of which are huge advancements in technology. Applied to treatment of mental disorders and improves eye witness testimonies.
L - Made major contributions to real life
Evaluation (LIMITATION) - Based on Machine Reductionism
E - Some similarities between how the human mind and a computer works. However, this analogy has been criticised as it ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation on our thought process (e.g. in eye witness testimonies, memory is affected by anxiety)
L- Not a comprehensive approach as it does not take into account human emotional factors
