The Cognitive Approach Flashcards
What are the assumptions of the cognitive approach?
- external behaviour is the result of our internal mental processes.
- The mind works like a computer
- These mental processes should be studied scientifically using controlled lab experiments.
What are internal mental processes?
Everything we do results from our mental processes
e.g. thinking, schema, memory, perception and language.
What is the computer model?
input — processing — output.
e.g.
sees photo of dyes hair —– decides to dye hair —- dyes hair
What is a schema?
A knowledge structure stored in memory that helps us organise and interpret information.
What are schemas based off?
Previous experience.
What do schemas do?
Central to the processing of sensory information.
Enable us to make sense of an input and decision the appropriate output.
Allow us to take shortcuts in processing the large amounts if information that we are subjected to.
negative point of schema -
These mental frameworks cause us to exclude important information and instead only focus on things that confirm our pre existing beliefs and ideas.
What is a theoretical model?
An attempt to describe the step by step mental processes behind a behaviour.
Not necessarily scientifically proven.
Examples of theoretical models -
multi store model
working memory model
define inference -
Drawing conclusions about unseen internal mental processes based on observable external behaviour.
What is cognitive neuroscience?
The study of the brain and how it relates to thoughts, feelings and behaviour. It is the link between cognitive psychology and science.
What is a problem for cognitive psychology?
They relied on inferring mental processes from observable behaviour.
What provides evidence that there are different types of LTM?
We can see that a different brain area is active when someone is asked to recall a procedural memory than when they are asked to recall a semantic memory.
Strengths of cognitive approach -
Uses a very scientific method - lab experiments.
Many useful real life applications such as in strategies for improving memory, eyewitness testimonies and CBT as treatment for mental disorders.
Limitations of cognitive approach -
Use of lab experiments means that research lacks ecological validity due to the artificiality of the tasks and environment so findings may not reflect everyday life.
The use of models can be seen as over-simplifying complex processes, e.g. the role of emotion is sometimes overlooked.
The approach is criticised for its comparison of people to computers, seeing people as mechanistic and lacking free will.
