The Cognitive Approach

Question 1

What is the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

The study of internal mental processes, the role of schema, the use of theoretical and computer models to make inferences about mental processes. The emergence of cognitive neuroscience. Developed in 1950’s as a response to the behaviourist approach

Question 2

Define the cognitive approach?

Answer 2

It means ‘mental processes’ so concentrates on how mental processes effect behaviour such as thoughts, perception and attention

Question 3

Define internal mental processes?

Answer 3

‘Private’ operations of the mind such as perception and attention that mediate between stimulus and response

Question 4

Define schema?

Answer 4

A framework of beliefs and expectations which are developed from experience

Question 5

Define inference?

Answer 5

The process where conclusions are drawn

Question 6

Define cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 6

The scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes

Question 7

What are the key assumptions of the cognitive approach?

Answer 7

Internal mental processes should be studied scientifically and therefore study previously neglected areas of psychology such as memory, perception and thinking.
Cognitive processes are studied indirectly so that inferences can be made.

Question 8

What is one important theoretical model within the cognitive approach? (assumption)

Answer 8

The information processing approach which suggests that information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages that include import, storage and retrieval (as in the MSM)

Question 9

What is the computer model/computer analogy?

Answer 9

It suggests there are similarities in the way that information is processed. Uses the concept of the central processing unit (the brain) and the concept of coding (tuning info into a useable format) and use of stores to hold info. Some parts work sequentially and some in parallel

Follow same route- data input, data processing, data output

Question 10

Why have computational models proved useful?

Answer 10

Helped development of thinking machines or artificial intelligence - application

Question 11

What is the role of schema? (assumptions)

Answer 11

Cognitive processes can often be affected by a person’s beliefs or expectations - often referred to as schema (packages of ideas and info developed through experience

Question 12

What do schema act as?

Answer 12

Mental framework for the interpretation of incoming info received by the cognitive system

Question 13

What do schema enable us to do?

Answer 13

Process lots of info quickly- useful as a mental shortcut that prevents us being overwhelmed by our environment

Question 14

Give an example of a scheme?

Answer 14

Everyone has a schema for making a cup of tea- babies born with simple schemas e.g sucking that become more sophisticated as we get older

Question 15

What is neuroscience? (assumptions)

Answer 15

The scientific study of the brain structures on mental processes - mapping brain areas to specific functions has a long history in psychology

Question 16

What did Paul Broca identify in the 1860’s?

Answer 16

How one damaged area of the frontal lobe could lead to permanently impaired speech production

Question 17

What does advances in brain imaging techniques such as MRI mean for cognitive approach?

Answer 17

Means that scientists have been able to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes.
Scanning techniques also proved useful in establishing the neurological basis of some mental disorders e.g OCD
It appears to play a role in processing unpleasant emotions

Question 18

How has focus on cognitive neuroscience expanded recently?

Answer 18

Now includes the use of computer generated model designed to read the brain - led to the development of mind mapping techniques known as fingerprinting

Question 19

What is a possible future application?

Answer 19

To analyse brainwave patterns of eye-witnesses to determine whether they are lying in court

Question 20

In what ways is the cognitive approach scientific?

Answer 20

Uses highly controlled and rigorous methods of study
Involves use of lab experiments to produce reliable, objective data
Emergence of cognitive neuroscience allowed biology and psychology to come together - giving the study of the mind a credible scientific basis

Question 21

What is machine reductionism and why is it a limitation?

Answer 21

Simplifying complex processes by comparing it to a machine - despite similarities between the human mind and computers, the analogy ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system and how it may affect our ability to process information

Question 22

What is an example of the limitations of machine reductionism?

Answer 22

Research has found that the human memory may be affected by emotional factors such as anxiety

Question 23

Why can the cognitive approach often not be applied to everyday life?

Answer 23

Cognitive psychology often suffers from being too abstract and theoretical in nature. Experimental studies of mental processes often carried out using artificial stimulus that may not represent everyday memory experience - lacks external validity

Doesn’t take into account individual differences - assumes everyone processes in the same way

Question 24

What are some of the real life applications?

Answer 24

Probably the dominant approach in psychology today , applied to wide range of practical and theoretical contexts e.g in field of artificial intelligence

Question 25

Why is being less deterministic than other approaches a strength?

Answer 25

Founded on soft determinism - recognises that we can only operate within the limits of what we know but that we are free to think before responding to stimulus. This is a more interactionist (mind and body separate) position than the hard determinism suggested by other approaches.

Question 26

What are the principles of the cognitive approach?

Answer 26

Our mental systems have a limited capacity
A control mechanism oversees all mental processes
There is a two way flow of information

Question 27

What are the limitations of compter models?

Answer 27

Humans influenced by emotional and motivational factors that don’t affect computers
Humans have an unlimited and unreliable memory (computers have opposite)
Humans have free will which computers don’t

Question 28

What methods does cognitive neuroscience use ?

Answer 28

Lesion studies- looking at people with Brain damage and the affect on behaviour
Electrophysiology- using electric and magnetic
fields to measure Brain activity and brain waves
Neuroimaging- pinpointing areas of the brain that are active when a task in performed

Question 29

What happens when information is consistent with a schéma?

Answer 29

It is assimilated into the schéma e.g A child steamer for an apple maybe an edible green hard sphere so every time a child sees a green apple experience is assimilated and the scheme is strengthened

Question 30

What happens when information is inconsistent with the schema?

Answer 30

Accommodation because the schema has to change in order to resolve the problem so if a child sees and red apple the apple schéma must accommodate this new information

Question 31

What is roll schema?

Answer 31

Ideas about the behaviour which is expected from someone in a certain role setting or situation eg schéma for a doctor = someone who is intelligent and sensible

Question 32

What is an event schéma?

Answer 32

Also called scripts- they contain information about what happens in a situation eg when you go to a restaurant you’ll need to read a menu

Question 33

What is a self schema?

Answer 33

Dees contain information about ourselves based on physical characteristics and personality as well as beliefs and values. Can affect how you act
Eg if your self schéma says you’re health conscious you’re likely to eat well and exercise regularly

Question 34

What are some problems with schemas?

Answer 34

They can stop people from learning new information, for example prejudice and stereo types can be an outcome of schema

Question 35

What was Bartlett’s study 1932?

Answer 35

English participants asked to read a native American folk tale it was an unfamiliar story full of strange and unusual names ideas and objects the participants were then asked to recall the story at different lengths of time

All of the participants change the story to fit their own schema and the details became more English. As time went on , info remembered decreased

Question 36

What did Bartlett’s study show + Evaluation?

Answer 36

People use their own schema to help interpret and remember the world around them

Lacked ecological validity - lab study
Highly influential - pathed way to further cognitive research