The Cognitive approach

Question 1

What does the cognitive approach look at?

Answer 1

The study of internal mental processes
The role of the schema
The use of theoretical and computer models

Question 2

What does the cognitive approach focus on?

Answer 2

Non observable behaviours

Question 3

What do cognitive psychologists focus on to explain behaviour?

Answer 3

Our perception, language, attention and memory

Question 4

What type of methods do cognitive psychologists use to test behaviour?

Answer 4

Scientific, experimental procedures

Question 5

Is the approach reductionistic? Why/why not?

Answer 5

Yes
Machine reductionism
Compares human behaviour to a computer

Question 6

What comparisons does the cognitive approach make of humans to computers?

Answer 6

Central processing unit in a computer is like the brain in humans
Coding in computers is like the use of stores in humans to hold information

Question 7

Why do cognitive psychologists use computer models?

Answer 7

To help make inferences about people’s thinking which is important as there is no physical evidence

Question 8

Why is the comparison of the human mind to a computer a significant limitation of the cognitive approach?

Answer 8

• ignores the influence of emotion and motivation means the explanation is incomplete
• Humans have free will but computers don’t
• Humans have unlimited but unreliable memories whereas computers have a limited but reliable memory

Question 9

What is a schema?

Answer 9

Contains all of the information you know about an object, action or situation

Question 10

What do schemas help with?

Answer 10

They help to organise and interpret information and experiences

Question 11

What happens when information that is consistent with the schema arrives?

Answer 11

It is assimilated into the schema which strengthens the schema

Question 12

What happens when information that is inconsistent with the schema arrives?

Answer 12

It is accommodated into the schema which means the schema then has to change to resolve the problem

Question 13

What can schemas help to explain?

Answer 13

Stereotypes
A schema which holds expectations or believes about a certain subgroup means that they will pay attention to things which strengthen their schema and ignore information that would be accommodated

Question 14

Where do cognitive psychologists do their studies?

Answer 14

Take place in a controlled lab setting

Question 15

What type of controlled studies do cognitive psychologists do?

Answer 15

Laboratory experiments
Case studies
Brain imaging techniques

Question 16

What are strengths of lab studies for cognitive psychologists?

Answer 16

gives the approach reliability and credible scientific basis

Question 17

What applications has the cognitive approach has?

Answer 17

Cognitive behavioural therapy
Development of artificial intelligence and thinking machines
Cognitive neuroscience

Question 18

What methods do cognitive neuroscientists use?

Answer 18

Lesion studies, electrophysiology and neuroimaging

Question 19

What criticisms are there of the cognitive approach?

Answer 19

• too abstract and theoretical in nature which means that it is unable to be generalised to everyday life
• Artificial stimuli - no reflection on everyday life, lacks external validity
• Lab setting = artificial, lacks ecological validity

Question 20

What does the cognitive approach ignore?

Answer 20

The influence of genetic factors which may play a role in the behaviour

Question 21

Is the cognitive approach deterministic?

Answer 21

It is less deterministic than other approaches