The Cognitive Approach Flashcards
Outline cognitive approach
Researching mental processing that cant be directly seen
What do cognitive psychologists use to represent processing in the mind
Models-an explanation of how the mind process info
2 examples of the model
Working memory model and multi store model
the 2 ways models represent processing?
1)Sequtial or serial processing
What is sequential processing?
Processing one at a time(one has to finish for next process starts)
Processing occurring in stages
Example of sequential processing?
Multi store model of memory
What is parallel processing?
** processing occurs simultaneously**
(Processing occurring at the same time)
An example of parallel processing
Working memory model
How is our behaviour determined according to cognitiveimulated psychologists?
By the way we process information
(stimulated from our environment)
How are mental processes inferred
Inferences-
drawing conclusions about what goes on in someone’s head from their behaviour
( in a lab study)
What is schema?
Beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing.
Packages of knowledge developed from our experiences
Strengths of Schema?
1) Enables us to process vast amounts of Info Rapidly
Strength as: PREVENTS US FROM BEING OVERWHELMED(BY ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULI)
A weakness of cognitive approach
Research into the cognitive approach lacks mundane realism
How does cognitive approach lack mundane realism ( example)
Studies of mental processes are often carried out using Artificial stimuli- (e.g word lists - to tets memory)
Theses dont represent everyday memory experinces
Therefore: lacks mundane realism
Why is using artificial stimuli a issue:
Issue as: cognitive psychologists can only there fore infer mental processes from behaviour they observe in their research
This means: Explaination of behaviours isnt accurate
One strength of the cognitive approach?
Uses highly scientific/objective methods
How does the cognitive approach use scientific/objective methods?(example)
For example:
Bugelsky and Alampay (1962) rat-man experiment in a lab.
Method in biglsey and alampay rat-man study
Two groups of participants were shown either a sequence of faces
or animals
before all being shown the same figure.
Findings in bagdely and alampay?(evidence)
They found that participants who saw the sequence of faces were more likely to see the final figure as a man
and
those shown a sequence of animals were more likely to see the final figure as a rat
Why is a buglsky and alampay rat-man experiment a strength of the cognitive approach?(explain)
As: lab experiments provide high control over variables, which produces reliable, objective data.
Social learning theory is a devolment of what approach(what came before)?
Behaviourist approach
What did behaviourism ignore that the social learning theory didnt
About behaviour
1)The role of culture
2)role of emotions
3)observational learning
According to the social learning theory - what 2 things determine the learning of a behaviour
1)ur environment
2)ur cognitions (free will)
Examples of how ur environment determines the learning of a behaviour
Imitation (copying others around u)
Identification(adopting behaviours/values of a group or person)
Modelling
