The Cognitive Approach Flashcards
What are the key assumptions?
Internal mental processes should be studied scientifically
The processes are studied indirectly by making inferences.
How are theoretical and computer models used?
They are used to help understand internal mental processes. The information processing apprach suggests information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of input, storage, output, based on the way computers function.
What are schema?
They are mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing. They are learnt through experience and help us to respond to objects or situations.
What is cognitive neuroscience?
It is the study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes. This has been helped by developments such as PET scans and MRIs.
What are the strengths of the cognitive approach?
It has real life application and is dominant today
It uses scientific methods which have high reliability
It believes in soft determinism and so accounts for free will
What are the weaknesses of the cognitive approach?
Machine reductionism means that it ignores the influence of emotion
It uses inferences which may not be reliable
