The Cognitive approach

Question 1

What is the Cognitive approach?

Answer 1

The cognitive approach is a study of our internal mental processes.
This is through studying the brain and observing how it processes information and how that would direct our behavior.

Question 2

What is a schema, and what are its features?

Answer 2

A schema is a cognitive framework that aids us to organise and interpret information.
- Based upon previous experiences
- Have the ability to evolve with experience
- Allows us to make cognitive shortcuts when interpreting info.

Question 3

What are the types of Schemas?

Answer 3

Role-schema: Ideas about the behaviour which is expected from a person in a certain role
Event-schema: Ideas about what happens in a given scenario
Self-schema: Information about ourselves based on personality. Can impact how you would act in a given situation

Question 4

What is Assimilation?

Answer 4

Assimilation is the selecting of an existing schema and changing/adapting it.

Question 5

What is Accommodation?

Answer 5

Accommodation is the creating of a new schema to differentiate

Question 6

What is Cognitive Neuroscience?

Answer 6

The biological mapping of cognitive processes (where they occur in the brain)

Question 7

What are the strengths of the Cognitive approach?

Answer 7

• Scientific methods which allows for higher replicability and more controlled research environments (RELIABILITY)
• Has real-life applications (e.g. eye-witness memory)

Question 8

What are the drawbacks of the Cognitive approach?

Answer 8

• abstract model
• deterministic
• reductionist