the cognitive approach

Question 1

what is the cognitive approach overall

Answer 1

it is a direct contrast to the behaviourist approach and argues that our mental processes (thoughts, perceptions, attention) affect behaviour

Question 2

what is inference in regard to the study of mental processes

Answer 2

mental processes cannot be observed so psychologists make inferences about what is going on inside peoples heads on the basis of their behaviour

Question 3

what is the information processing approach?

Answer 3

the mind equates to a computer and has an input, output, storage, retrieval

Question 4

whats the computer analogy

Answer 4

suggests that there are similarities in the way computers and human minds operate

Question 5

what is schema

Answer 5

a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influences cognitive processing and develop from experience

Question 6

what is a strength on the cognitive approach

Answer 6

it uses scientific and objective methods such as lab studies and has a credible, scientific basis

Question 7

what is a weakness of the cognitive approach

Answer 7

it is based on machine reductionism and neglects the idea of human emotion and other important aspects that influence performance