The Cognitive Approach Flashcards
The cognitive approach is a direct contrast to the
Behaviourist approach
The cognitive approach argues that
Mental processes should be studied
Mental processes are ‘private’ and cannot be observed so
Cognitive psychologists study them indirectly by making assumptions about what’s going on inside people’s heads on the basis of their behaviour
The information processing approach suggests that
Information flows through a sequence of stages
What are the stages in the information processing approach?
Input
Storage
Retrieval
Basically the multi-store model
Computer models refer to programmes that can be run
On a computer to imitate the human mind
By running a programme on a computer, psychologists can test whether their
Ideas about information processing are correct
Schema are
Packages of information developed through experience
Schema act as a
‘Mental framework’ for the interpretation of incoming information received by the cognitive system
Baby’s are born with simple motor schema for
Innate behaviours such as sucking and grasping
As we get older, our schema become more
Detailed and sophisticated
Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of the
Influence of brain structures (neuro) on mental processes (cognition)
With advances in brain scanning technology
Scientists have been able to describe the neurological basis of mental processing
Scanning techniques have also proved to be useful in establishing
the neurological basis of some disorders
Cognitive psychologists have always employed
controlled and rigorous methods of study
Because cognitive psychologists always use methods such as lab studies, this has enabled the two fields of
Biology and cognitive psychology to come together
Merging biology and cognitive psychology means that the study of the mind has established
A credible scientific basis
Machine reductionism AO3
Although there are similarities between the operation of the human mind and a computer, the computer analogy has been criticised as human emotion and motivation have been shown to influence accuracy of recall - these factors are not considered within the information-processing model therefore approach oversimplifies human cognitive processing and ignores important aspects that influence performance
Low ecological validity AO3
Cognitive psychologists are only able to infer mental processes from the behaviour they observe so the approach sometimes suffers from being too abstract and theoretical + research often carried out using artificial stimuli, e.g. recall of a word list in memory studies, therefore cognitive approach low in ecological validity.
Real-life applications.
The cognitive approach has been applied to a wide range of practical and theoretical contexts, cognitive psychology has made a positive contribution to the field of artificial intelligence and the development of robots. as by understanding how human mind works we can programme computers capable of intelligent ‘human-like’ behaviour.
Soft determinism AO3
Soft determinism as out cognitive system can only operate within certain limits but we are free to think before responding to a stimulus - in contrast to behaviourist approach which suggests we are passive slaves to environment and lack free choice in our behaviour.
