The Cognitive Approach Flashcards
What is the cognitive approach
Focuses on how mental processes affect our behaviour
What are internal mental processes
Perception and attention that mediate between stimulus and response
What is a schema
A package of ideas and information that have developed via experience that allow us to process information faster
A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence our cognitive thinking
What is inference
Process where cognitive psychologist draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate
on the basis of observed behaviour
Key assumptions of the cognitive approach
They believe the internal mental processes lie between stimulus and response
Mental processes are not observable
So study them indirectly by making inferences about them
these can be modelled and tested scientifically via controlled lab experiments
People are information processes and mine operates in the same way as a computer
Cognitive neuroscience 2 marks
The scientific study of brain structures and the influence on mental processes involved scanning the brain while it is carrying out a cognitive process to see which area of the brain or active drink which cognitive processes

Inference 2 marks
Making assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed
Cognitive approach A01
Mental processes and inferences
Theoretical models
Computer models
Schema
Cognitive approach A01
Mental processes and inferences
In direct contrast to the behaviourist approach, cognitive approach argues that mental processes should be studied
cognitive processes of human behaviour lie between stimulus and response
these mental processes are private (perception and attention) and not observable so must be studied indirectly by making inferences
they do this by making inferences about the processes and then modelling and measuring them scientifically
Cognitive approach A01
Theoretical models
Cognitive psychologists compare the human mind to a computer in which both have an input transformation and output system (informational processing model)
Theoretical models are simplified representations of mental processes
Show information flows to the cognitive system in a sequence of stages
E.g. the multi store model of memory which presents memory of the stage base sequence in the form of a flow chart
Or using it solve problems
Cognitive approach A01
Computer models
Computer models refer to programs that can be run on a computer to imitate the human mind
This can test if a psychologists ideas about information processing are correct
Expect systems (Artifical intelligence) are programs with a body of knowledge to deal with real life problems to replace the work of humans
For example dendral program which has been used to help chemists establish the structure of complex molecules
Cognitive approach A01
Schema (if time)
Cognitive theories also assume that people’s cognitive thinking is affected by their personal schemas
Schemas are packages of ideas that information which have been gathered fire experience and help people process information more quickly
However it can also eliminate information does not fit our pre-existing beliefs and expectations

In what ways are scheme is useful?
1
2
Allows to take shortcuts when interpreting huge amounts information we have a deal with on a daily basis
Allow us to make predictions based on past experiences
In what ways are schemas not useful?
1
2
Schemas can cause us to eliminate information that does not fit our pre-existing beliefs or ideas are expectations
Inaccurate EWT (Loftus and Palmer - smash instead of hit - glass - source monitoring/confusion)
Biased RECALL (rat man)
Rob a young man is in a supermarket when he sees an old lady struggling to reach the top shelf he offers to get them down for her and then reaches up for them
Identified three stages of information-processing
Input seeing old woman struggling
Transformation deciding whether to help her or not
Output offering to help
How does cognitive approach study these mental processes
One way to study internal processes is to the use of theoretical models such as the information-processing model
They then use this to make inferences and then measure and test them MAINLY scientifically via controlled lab experiments

Research of schemas not being useful
RAT MAN
1 groups of ps shown pictures of differences faces
1 group of ps shown different animals
Then showed an ambiguous figure
Participants who saw a sequence of faces more likely to perceive the figure as a man
Participants who saw a sequence of animals more likely to see figure as a rat
Shows how mental processes can be affected by schemas / expectations.
RECALL BIAS
What is the aim of cognitive neuroscience?
Look for biological basis of thought processes
Combines cognitive psychology, cognitive science and neuroscience and has emerged as technology has advanced
Rapid advances is brain scanning techniques such as PET and MRI scans have helped see which parts of the brain become more active during which cognitive processes.
Evaluation of cognitive approach
Soft determinism
Machine reductionism
Controlled and rigorous methods
Real life application
Evaluation of cognitive approach
One strength of the cognitive approach is that it is Soft determinism
It is less deterministic then others
This is because it recognises that our cognitive system can only operate on the limits of what we know e.g. language ability but also acknowledges that we are able to think before responding to a stimulus
This is an interactionist/ middle ground position that psychologist refer to a soft determinism 
This is a strength as it takes a more reasonable and flexible middle ground position in the free will and determinism debate more in line with this subjective sense of free will
Evaluation of cognitive approach
One limitation of the cognitive approach is that it is machine reductionist
Despite the similarities between the human mind and computers it
ignores the influence of human EMOTION and MOTIVATION on cognitive processes and how the human mind is more likely to make MISTAKES and processing information for example forgetting
This is limitation as it over simplifies human cognition and doesn’t give a whole explanation of complex human behaviour
Evaluation of cognitive approach
One strength of the cognitive approach is that it has real life application
Cognitive approach is used in understanding symptoms of psychological disorders such as depression and how that comes from 40 thinking processes that results in abnormal behaviour
This has led to successful treatment of people suffering from depression using cognitive based therapies where the faulty thinking is identified an altered
(Also in CBT to reduce inaccuracies of EWT)
This is a strength as it can be applied to real life and help people suffering

Evaluation of cognitive approach
One strength of the cognitive approach is that it has high scientific credibility
Due to the use of controlled lab experiments - obtain reliable objective data which allows researchers to infer cognitive processes at work
The emergence of neuroscience has also enabled the biological and cognitive approach to come together
which means the study of the mind has established a more credible scientific basis since Wundts attempts to measure private mental processes.
This is a strength as it increases a scientific credibility of the approach
However this can be seen as a limitation by focusing on being too scientific may lose sight of whole person and individuality which makes us all unique individuals
