The Cognitive Approach

Cognitive approach

Focused on how our mental processes affect behaviour.

Inference

A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. Cognitive psychologists research conclusions about mental processes based on observed behaviour.

Internal mental processes

‘Private’ operations of the mind like perceptions and attention that mediate between stimulus and response.

e.g. Perception, language, memory, attention, problem solving

Schema

Cognitive representations of our ideas of someone or something. Formed through experience and allow us to predict what may happen in our world.

Allows us to fill in the gaps in our knowledge when we don’t have the full information

Model

A representation of something else

Assumptions

Takes account of the thoughts which act as mediational processes between stimulus and response

Adopts an information processing approach and uses computer analogies to explain how input, processing and output influences behaviour. Uses models to represent mental processes e.g. MSM and computer terminology e.g. encoding, processing and retrieval

Thought processes can be scientifically studied.

Role of the schema

Babies have a simple motor schema for innate behaviours like sucking and grasping. Consists of moving a hand towards an object and shaping using the visual input.

More detailed as we get older. Adults develop mental representations for everything

Schema enables us to process lots of information quickly as a mental shortcut. Prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli.

May also distort our interpretations of information and leads to perceptual errors

The use of models

Computers were used as a model for the human mind when the cognitive approach first came about.

The computer model was used to represent the processes taking place in the mind. Suggests that humans input, manipulate and output information like computers do.

MSM and WMM both represent an aspect of mental activity in terms of input, processing and output.

Models of mental processes appear as a flowchart (set of boxes and arrows, shows the flow of information)

Useful as they mean that abstract processes can be represented as concrete images to make processes visible.

Making inferences

Cognitive psychologists use models to help them understand internal mental processes. These cannot be directly observed so psychologists study them indirectly by making inferences about what goes on inside people’s minds based on their behaviour.

S Practical applications

Loftus and Palmer’s research has shown that EWT can be affected by leading questions.

This research was useful in understanding the reliability of EWT can be affected by leading questions used during police interviews. This led to improving police interviews.

S Controlled environments

Loftus and Palmer’s EWT experiment controlled extraneous variables to ensure that only the verb in the leading question affected the participant’s memory.

A cause and effect can be established between the independent and dependent variable. Makes sure the procedures are standardised.

Increases internal validity and reliability of research that take the cognitive approach

W Controlled environments

Baddeley’s memory experiments were done in a lab

Creates an artificial environment so it may not represent how memory operates in everyday life. Other types of information may be remembered differently.

Lower ecological validity and harder to generalise

W Reductionist

CA may not account for the complexity of human behaviour.

Isolating internal mental processes as the main cause of a behaviour may ignore other explanations

Behaviours may be explained through other approaches like SLT where behaviour is a consequence of observation of others, or the biological approach where genes and neurochemistry is important.

W Relies on computer analogies

Computer analogies of input - processing - output ignore the impact that emotions have on behaviour.

This approach may also fail to consider the multiple factors which influence behaviour and the individual differences between how or why people behaved or act a certain way.

The CA doesn’t offer a complete understanding of human behaviour