the cognitive approach Flashcards
assumptions
-cognitive psychologists looks at internal mental processes to understand behaviour
-mental processes are private and cant be observed, making inferences about what is going on inside peoples head
what is an inference
a logical conclusion based on the evidence presented
the informational processing model
input-> processing-> output
-input is from the environment via the senses
-processing is when information is encoded and processed e.g using schemas
-output is observable behaviour
what are theoretical models
used to represent different mental processes
computer models
suggests our brains are like computers
-working memory= RAM
-long term memory= hard drive
what are schemas
a ‘packet’ of information that helps us organise and interpret information based on previous experience, they become more detailed with experience
-babies are born with simple schemas for innate behaviours such as grasping and sucking
what is cognitive neuroscience
scientific study of brain structure on mental processes
what are FMRIs
pinpoints changes in blood flow, different parts of the brain light up when thinking about doing something
they are used to see if people in comas still have brain activity
scientific methods allow studies to be conducted in what 3 ways
objective
systematic
replicable
what does objective mean
the study is not influenced by personal opinions/ past experiences
what does systematic mean
the methods are carried out in an orderly way
what does replicable mean
repeating a study under the same conditions to see if the same results can be achieved
highly reliable laboratory methods…
allow studies to be repeated and for data to be compared to other participants
what is machine reductionism
reducing human behaviour to the function of a machine such as a computer
limitations of machine reductionism
unlike computer brains make mistakes such as
-making mistakes
-ignore available information
-forgets things they previously stored
the computer analogy also ignores the role of emotion and motivation in human behaviour
