The Cognitive Approach Flashcards
What are the key features of the cognitive approach?
- internal mental processes
- SOR model
- using inferences
- theoretical models
- humans are similar to computers
- humans use schemas
What is the role of theoretical and computer models?
Cognitive psychologists use theoretical models ( information processing and computers) to understand internal mental processes.
What are the advantages of using models in cognitive psychology?
Helps to simplify complex processes
Turns abstract concepts into concrete forms
Helps to predict how the brain will respond in different events.
How are these theoretical models like the MSM similar to parts of a computer?
It needs all of the components to work together and has inputs and outputs. The RAM is like the STM and the hard drive is like the STM.
What are inferences?
Making assumptions about unobservable processes based on evidence and reasoning
What are the disadvantages of making inferences?
The models are unobservable so there is a lack of knowledge and evidence to make assumptions so they may not be correct.
What is a schema?
A schema is a mental representation of events, objects and situations.
Why are schemas useful?
They tell us how to act in the future, prevent us from becoming overwhelmed from environmental stimuli and allow us to take shortcuts when processing information so we can act quickly.
What are the disadvantages of using schemas?
They give us expectations and could lead to us stereotyping a schema to other things or people just because of one trait.
STUDY - Bartletts War of the Ghosts - how schemas develop
Procedure - Bartlett wanted to see whether cultural background and unfamiliarity with a text would lead to distortion of memory at recall.
20 British ppts had to read a Native American story wait 15 mins and tell what they can remember to the next and so on.
Results - The length of the story got shorter each time, odd supernatural details were left out, the story was familiar to the ppts schemas.
What is a PET scan and how does it work?
Positron Emission Tomography
A radiotracer is injected and the PET scan rotates around the person and detects the radiation to produce 3 dimensional images.
How do brain scans reduce problems with inferencing in cognitive psychology?
Brain scans are objective so you don’t need to make guesses and it is free from researcher bias.
Evaluation of the cognitive approach - does this effectively explain human behaviour?
Strengths
- reliable - very scientific
- can be applied to real life - EWT
- high ecological validity
Limitations
- some research has bad samples and ethnocentricity
- PET scanners are unethical
- reductionist
