cognitive approach

What is the cognitive approach?

Cognitive processes refer to the way in which knowledge is gained, used and retained

• Explains all behaviour in terms of thoughts, beliefs, attitudes

• It is the study of internal mental processes

What are the examples of mental processes?

• Perception

• Attention

• Memory

• Language

• Thinking

• Problem solving

What are the assumptions in the cognitive approach?

1. Thought / mediational processes determines behaviour

2. Mediational processes can be studied scientifically (BUT, they can only study through inference)

3. Humans are like information processors - computer analogy

4. Schemas shape thought

5. Theoretical models (models of memory) can explain mediational processes

What is the computer analogy?

It compares how we take information (input), store it or change it (process data) and then recall it when necessary (output)

• The brain = hardware

• Cognitive processes = software

What is an example of a theoretical model / model of memory?

The Multistore Memory Model (Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968)

• Represents mental activity in terms of input, processing and output

How do psychologists study mental processes?

• Cognitive psychologists use models to help understand internal mental processes - ‘private’ and cannot be directly observed

• They are studied indirectly by making inferences about what is going on inside people’s minds based on their behaviour