cognitive approach ao1

key assumptions of cognitive approach

• human behaviour caused by thoughts (internal mental processes)

• IMP similar to how computers process information

• schemas are mental shortcuts + building blocks of thought, if schema is irrational it leads to faulty thinking

• only study humans

• scientific methods useful, but must use inference

• human IMP best represented by theoretical models

schema

• mental framework to organise information

• helpful for processing information without getting overwhelmed with individual pieces of information

computer analogy

• human information processing similar to a computer

• receives input, processes information, outputs information

• gives cognitive approach structure. makes easier to understand human thinking

theoretical models

• represent human thought processes (e.g. multistore model of memory)

• must use inference as thoughts cannot be directly observed