the cognitive approach Flashcards
what is the cognitive approach a response to?
the behaviourist approach. as behaviourists argue that we can’t study mental processes.
why does the cognitive approach assume that we must study mental processes
because behaviour can’t just be explained by stimulus and response
what are the assumptions of the cognitive approach?
- we must study mental processes.
- the mind works like a computer
what are three important mental processes?
memory, perception and attention
what does perception mean?
-this refers to how the mind senses stimuli
what does attention mean?
referring to how the mind selects which stimuli to focus on.
what does memory mean?
referring to how the mind stores stimuli
what do cognitive psychologists assume the mind works like
a computer
why do cognitive psychologists assume the mind works like a computer?
cognitive psychologists assume that the mind works like a computer, because stimuli are like inputs, then the mind processes those inputs, and then the behaviour is like an output
what is the model of how the mind works called?
information processing model
what do the behaviourist and cognitive approach not share in common?
- cognitive psychologists believe that we should study mental processes, but behaviourists believe that we can’t.
- behaviourists believe that human participation is not necessary but cognitive psychologists do use human participants.
what do cognitive psychologists and behavioural psychologists have in common?
- both study the mind
- both think that past experiences influence future behaviour
what does the cognitive approach use to explain how mental processes work?
theoretical models
what does the cognitive approach involve
using inference to refine theoretical models
what does making an inference mean?
reaching a conclusion about mental processes, based on observations of behaviour
how do cognitive psychologists test theoretical models?
by measuring behaviour in order to make inferences about mental processes
colleen observed that participants could only recall one sound when two were played at the same time. she inferred from this that ….
we can only pay attention to one sound at at time
what type of capacity do mental processes have
an limited capacity
what order to mental processes occur in?
mental processes usually occur in sequence but sometimes occur in parallel
if everyone’s scheme is informed by their own experiences what does this mean?
different people will have different schemas
what is a schema?
mental frameworks built up from our past experiences
what do schema’s affect?
our expectations and our behaviour
what does it mean when something is assimilated into our schema
when a new experience matches our schema and is incorporated into our schema
what does it mean when an experience matches our schema
we say that it has assimilated into our schema
what must we do if an experience doesn’t match our schema
we must accommodate our schema
what did Bartlett do in his study on schema’s
- Bartlett had English participants read a Navajo folk tale
- Bartlett asked ppt to recall the folk tale
- Bartlett measured how may details they got wrong
- bartlett found that ppt changed details to match their own schemas
why do cognitive psychologists measure observable behaviour ?
to make inferences about how mental processes work, in order to test theoretical models of mental processes
what did Bartlett conduct his study on?
Bartlett conducted research into schema theory
strengths of the cognitive approach?
- uses the scientific method to study mental processes. the cognitive approach is highly scientific , because cognitive psychologists make inferences based on observable behaviour meaning that they rely on empirical evidence. they conduct laboratory experiments with high control over extraneous variables. and their theories are falsifiable.
- can be used to understand and treat mental disorders e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy
what type of studies does the cognitive approach conduct?
laboratory experiments
limitations of the cognitive approach?
- laboratory experiments that are used may lack ecological validity because lab experiments may not reflect how we use mental processes in our everyday life
- ignores the possibility of individual differences in mental processes
what does the cognitive approach involve
involves making theoretical models about how mental schema’s work
what type of approach is the cognitive approach ?
nomothetic approach as it involves coming up with theories and laws about how everyone’s mental processes work
