The Cognitive Approach

Question 1

AO1: what is the cognitive approach

Answer 1

how metal processes (thoughts, perception, attention) effects behaviour

Question 2

AO1:

Answer 2

internal mental processes- ‘private’ operations of the mind that mediate between stimulus and response

schema- mental framework, developed from experience, of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing

information processing approach- info flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages

inference- cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate based on observed behaviour

Question 3

AO1: the ratman

Answer 3

the ratman was an experiment done by Bugelski and Alampay (1962). Split their participants into two groups and had one group close their eyes while the other saw a series of pictures of faces and then this was repeated with the second group but they saw a series of animals. They found that participants who were shown a series of faces were more likely to see the last figure as a man and the participants shown a series of animals were more likely to see it as a rat/mouse.

The way they perceive the ambiguous figure is influenced by the schema that has been formed by the images preceding it.

Question 4

AO3: strength uses objective and scientific methods

Answer 4

P: uses objective (not influenced by personal feelings or opinions) and scientific methods)
E: uses highly controlled and thorough methods of study
E: This has involved the use of lab experiments to produce reliable, objective data. In addition, the emergence of cognitive neuroscience has enabled the two fields of biology and cognitive psychology to come together.
L: meaning the study of the mind has established a scientific basis
HOWEVER,
P: it relies on the inference on mental processes, rather than direct observation of behaviour
E: this means its too abstract and theoretical
E: as well the studies are carried out with artificial stimuli, which are not everyday experiences. meaning its low in external validity and cant generalise to target population.

Question 5

AO3: limitation - doesn’t consider all factors

Answer 5

P: it doesnt consider factors such as emotion and motivation that links to behaviour
E/E: it insists that we are more than biological machines but overlooks the equally important fact that we are not just cognitive creatures
HOWEVER,
P: it does pay respect to both nature and nurture
E/E: it recognises that behaviour is the result of information processing which occurs in the brain and is of biological origin (nature). It also recognises that schema is modified by experience in the environment (nurture)

Question 6

AO3: strength- real world application

Answer 6

P: real world application
E/E: cognitive psychology has made an important contribution into the field of AI and the development of robots. As well as its principles being applied to the treatment of depression using CBT and also the reliability of eye witness testimony using the cognitive interview.
L: This indicates that cognitive research has made concrete contributions to contemporary society and has developed professional understanding in many fields.