THE COGNITIVE APPROACH Flashcards
what does the cognitive approach study
higher mental processes which are private and cannot be observed. cognitive psychologists study them indirectly by making Local inferences about what is going on within a person’s head.
describe how the cognitive approach is scientific in terms of observation and inference
the process whereby cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour. making a local conclusion on the basis of inference and assumptions.
describe the method of studying internal processes by using theoretical and computer models
one way to study internal processes is to use theoretical models. One important theoretical model is the information processing approach, which suggests that info flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages that include input, storage, and retrieval. for example in the MSM. the approach also uses computer models where the mind is compared to a computer, suggesting similarities in the way that information is processed. these models have been useful in the development of thinking machines or artificial intelligence.
describe the role of a schema
A schema is a cognitive framework that supports the organisation and interpretations of information in the brain. schemas help you respond to information appropriately as they give prejudice to situations to limit the required cognitive thinking. they allow us to process information quickly which prevents overstimulation however they can also distort our interpretations of sensory information, leading to perceptual errors.
discuss the emergence of cognitive neuroscience
cognitive neuroscience investigates how cognition is produced by the interaction of neutral mechanisms. for example in functional neuroimaging FMRI and PET scans are used to investigate brain activity while engaged in tasks.
we can also study this using clinical case studies where individuals who suffer from brain damage are compared to healthy brains so that we can gain more insight into aspects of cognition.
all of these techniques have provided us with the ability for brain mapping showing localized areas for specific functions. knowing this can be applied in many ways such as understanding more about language or memory.
describe a strength of the cognitive approach
the cognitive approach has always employed highly controlled methods. lab experiments are commonly used to produce reliable, objective data. it has also brought together biology and cognitive psychology meaning psychology became more accepted as a science
how has the cognitive approach been applied to psychopathology in a real-world application
the approach has been used to better understand how we interpret the actions of others. and the approach has been used to explain much of the dysfunctional behavior shown by people such as criminals. which can then be traced back to faulty thinking processes which could be used in court as support or argument.
what argument is there for machine reductionism against the approach
although there are similarities between the human mind and the operations of a computer, the analogy has been criticized by many. it ignores emotion and motivation in the cognitive system which affects abilities to process information. for example, anxiety has an effect on eyewitness testimony.
what was the area in the frontal lobe that if damaged could be a threat to speech.
The Broca’s area (named by the finder, Paul Broca)
