The Cognitive Approach Flashcards
What is internal mental processes
How information received from our senses is processed by the brain and how this processing directs how we behave
Eg. Perception, memory, attention, thinking
What is inference
Drawing a conclusion from evidence and reasoning
Extra info; we use clues from observable behaviour to build an explanation of what is going on inside the brain/mind
What is the multi store model
Shows how information is processed inside the brain through a sequence of stages that involve input, storage retrieval and storage
How does computers compare to the mind
CUP= brain
Coding= info changed into usable format (electrical signals)
Stores= sensory/ STM/LTM
What is a schema
A mental framework of beliefs and expectation that influence cognitive processing and help us to interpret our world
How are schemas useful
Help us make sense of the world by providing shortcuts to identify things that we come across
Make is easier to predict behaviour
Allows us to process new information more easily
How can schemas be less helpful
Can lead to bias and generalisation
Can lead to mistakes
Lead to inaccurate eye witness testimony
What is the method of bartletts study supporting schemas
- Bartlett asked 20 males to recall the war of the ghosts story a period of time after being told
- a lot has difficulty recalling the story accurately and shortened it
- participants changed subjects of the story to fit their own culture
This shows that memory is reconstructive and that we process information when we recall it which can lead to inaccuracies. We used schema to fill in gaps
How does neuroscience help with understanding the brain
Brain scanning technologies are able to describe the locations and neurological basis of mental processing and so many disorders
Can be used to identify where brain injuries occur and the symptoms the patient will experience
Where in the brain is the speech production function found
Brocas area
Where in the brain is the language composition function found
Wernicle area
Where in the brain is the body movement RHS function found
Left motor cortex
Where in the brain is the episodic LTM function found
Hippocampus
Where in the brain is the procedural LTM function found
Cerebellum
Where in the brain is the visual processing function found
Occipital lobe/ cortex
Where in the brain is the motional regulation function found
Amygdala
AO3 strengths
strength
- scientific and objective methods
- Uses labs and controlled research
- infer cognitive processes and brain scans to see brain activity
- accurate and reliable
- may lack external validly as we can’t generalise to wider population
strength
- real world applications
- treatments like cognitive- behavioural theory (CBT)
- CBT works by replacing irrational or maladaptive thinking with adaptive and rational thinking
- leads to more positive and healthy outcomes
- a successful therapy that’s helped many people
AO3 weakness
weakness
- suffers from machine reductionism
- comparing us to computers and simple information processes is reductionist
- ignore emotional, motivational and social factors
- a more holistic and valid explanation for behaviour is to consider the person as a whole- consider information as a part of the explanation as well as emotional influences
