The Cognitive Approach

Question 1

What are the main assumptions of the Cognitive Approach?

Answer 1

• The human mind is like a computer
• Behaviour is a result of internal mental processes
• Information we take in through our senses is actively processed; humans are not passive responders to their environment

Question 2

What are theoretical models?

Answer 2

Frameworks developed by cognitive psychologists to help explain cognitive processes (e.g. memory and perception) through a series of steps/components. Usually a diagram is used to illustrate this.

Question 3

What is the Information Processing Model?

Answer 3

1. Stimulus occurs
2. Info is taken in via senses and coded
3. Info is processed. This mental event is what mediates the info coming in and the output. These events are processed through perception, memory, attention, etc
4. Output = behaviour response

Question 4

What is inference?

Answer 4

As not all internal mental processes are observable, psychologists study them using inference

• Taking clues from observable behaviour to suggest what is occurring in the IMPs of the unobservable mind
• Go beyond the observable behaviour and draw conclusions about IMPs based on evidence and reasoning

Question 5

What is the role of schemas?

Answer 5

• Cognitive frameworks that help organise and interpret information
• Act as ‘packages of knowledge’ through experience
• Take quick mental shortcuts interpreting huge amounts of info
• Fill in the gaps of info (inform our expectations) so we can behave appropriately in a situation
• At times ignores info that doesn’t fit our stereotype

Question 6

How do schemas link to human behaviour?

Answer 6

Rejection from parents/ isolation from friends in childhood = negative self schemas = see yourself as unwanted/unloved = filters into adulthood = possible depression

Question 7

How are computer models used?

Answer 7

• Way of studying the mind’s processes that can’t be observed both directly and ethically
• Computer programs are used to emulate human mental processes
• Psychologists experiment with these to get better understanding of the functioning of the mind
• Are programmed with algorithms (step by step instructions) which act like human mental processes
• Once the algorithm is in place, input is created to simulate the environmental stimulus
• It is then processed leading to an output likened to human behaviour (because the mind works like a computer)

Question 8

What are the aims of computer models?

Answer 8

• Cognitive psychologists are trying to create computer models that can learn and express intelligent behaviour (AI)
• Use the output from them to help understand how the mind learns and works
• We can apply what we learn from computer models to humans because the mind works like a computer

Question 9

What is cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 9

• Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of the biological basis for mental processing - specifically how neurons behave during those processes
• This is done by measuring activity of parts of the brain during cognitive processing
• Brain imaging techniques like fMRI and PET scans allow scientists to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processing
• PPs are given cognitive tests while scanning takes place

Question 10

How can schemas be negative?

Answer 10

• Can lead to stereotyping others based on our past experiences
• Can lead to forgetting/ignoring info that doesn’t fit our schemas
• Can lead to making errors when performing new tasks as we still apply our old understanding

Question 11

How is scientific methodology a strength?

Answer 11

• A strength of the CA is that it is supported by studies with high levels of control
• The high control of lab experiments allows researchers to use standardised procedure which makes the study easy for other researchers to replicate and check for consistency (reliability) in results
• The high levels of control also eliminates extraneous variables thus allowing researchers to establish a strong cause and effect relationship thus increasing validity
• Also the use of operationalisation allows researchers to gather valid objective data unaffected by bias
• Thus as the CA is based on highly scientific research this validity extends to the CA

Question 12

How do Beck and Ellis support?

Answer 12

• A strength is that there is supporting evidence for mental abnormality coming from faulty cognitions
• Beck found that depression was a result of faulty schemas that led to cognitive biases about the self, world, and future
  Ellis found that having consistent negative irrational beliefs can make people more vulnerable to depression
• This supports the key CA assumption that our thoughts and mental processes have a strong influence on our behaviour
• This validates the CA

Question 13

How is incompleteness a weakness?

Answer 13

• A weakness of the CA is that it may be considered incomplete
• While it does acknowledge the role of experiences it oversimplies complex processes (e.g. thought and emotions) to simple ideas like schemas
• Thus it ignores the influence of genes and neurotransmitters on behaviour despite credible evidence from McGuffin
• This limits the explanatory scope of the CA. As it is incomplete it reduces in validity