The Cognitive Approach

Question 1

What are the Assumptions of The Cognitive Approach?

Answer 1

• Internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically ‘opposite of the behaviorist approach’ and so investigated memory perception and thinking
• Studied indirectly by making inferences as processes are ‘private’

Question 2

What is the Role of the Schema? How do they work in different stages of life?

Answer 2

• ‘packages of ideas and information developed through experience
• ‘mental framework for the interpretation of incoming information’
• Babies have simple motor schema for innate behaviours such as sucking/grabbing
• Older we get more detailed our schema become - adults have schema for everything
• Enable us to process a lot of information quickly/may distort interpretations of sensory info leading to perceptual errors

Question 3

What are Theoretical and Computer models?

Answer 3

• Theoretical models are abstract whereas computer models are concrete
• Infor processing approach (theoretical model) suggests info flows through cognitive systems in stages: input storage retrieval
• based on how a computer works but computer model would involve programming a computer to see if output was the same as humans
• computational models have proved useful in the development of AI

Question 4

Examples of the emergence of cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 4

• fMRI and PET scans allow systematic observation of the neurological basis of mental processes
• Buckner and Peterson (different types of LTM exist on different sides of the pre-frontal cortex)
• scanning techniques have helped the neurological basis of mental health issues e.g the link between OCD and the parahippocampal gyrus
• computer-generated models that read the brain, could analyse brain wave patterns during EWT

Question 5

What is one Machiney limitation of the Cognitive approach?

Answer 5

• Machine Reductionism: computer analogy has been critisised as it ignored human emotion and motivation. E.g memory may be affected by emotional factors (anxiety on EWT)

Question 6

What is one strength of the Cognitive approach relating to applicability?

Answer 6

• As seen in the ‘emergence of cognitive neuroscience’ flashcard, the approach is frequently used in real life e.g artificial intelligence and treating depression CBT

Question 7

What increases the internal validity of Research into the Cognitive Approach?

Answer 7

• highly controlled/rigorous methods of study for example lab studies and emergence of cognitive neuroscience allowed biology and cognitive psychology to enhance the scientific basis of study