the cognitive approach 🧠

what is cognition?

‘knowing’

what are cognitive processes?

the way in which knowledge is gained, used and retained

how do cognitive psychologists explain and study behaviour?

thoughts, beliefs. andattitudes - how these direct our behaviour

why was the cognitive approach developed?

a reaction against the behaviourist stimulus approach, which avoided mental processes :(

what are the 5 basic assumptions of the cognitive appraoch?

1. thought/emotional processes determine behaviour

2. meditational processes can be studied scientifically

3. humans = information processors

4. schemas shape thought

5. theoretical models can explain meditational processes

what is an inference?

a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

what is a theoretical model?

a model which tries to explain the way our mental processes work: a simplified representation based on current research

(e.g. a clock is a theoretical model of time)

what is a schema?

a mental structure we have developed through experiences that represents an aspect of the world

what is the computer analogy?

• the comparison of the human mind to a computer by cognitive psychologists

• compares how we take info, store/change it and recall it when necessary to a computer’s input/encode/process/output functions

• hardware = brain, software = cognitive process

why are schemas important?

enable us to make sense of the world - provide shortcuts to identifying things we come across (“building blocks” of knowledge)

how are schemas are learned?

• through experience or formed culturally

• e.g. through parents/media etc.

• new info is assimilated into existing schemas

name 3 key ideas about schemas:

• can be difficult to change

• may have an evolutionary purpose

• may lead to stereotyping and justice

give an example of a theoretical model:

Multistore Model of Memory (Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968)

give reasons why psychology may/may not be a science:

YES:

• cognitive psychologists have a very scientific approach towards studying behaviour

• scientific and controlled experiments

NO:

• although they concerned w/ the inner workings of the mind, which cannot be directly observed, psychologists can infer what is happening (through scientific and controlled experiments)

give 6 strengths of the cognitive approach:

• scientific - based on carefully controlled research

• use of computer models helps us to understand unobservable mental processes

• soft deterministic - allows individuals to think/processes before responding to stimulus

• useful applications, e.g. EWT, CBT, AI

• functional explanation

• connects to bio via cognitive neuroscience

give 6 limitations of the cognitive approach:

• focus on individual mental processes (e.g. attention) leaves little room for how these mental events work together

• machine reductionism - may be seen as mechanical as computer model leaves little room for the irrationality seen in emotional behaviours

• lacks ecological validity and issues of generalisation - focus on exactly what can be recalled in controlled environments means an understanding of everyday use of memory is missing from explanations

• soft determinism and little room for processes other than internal mental events affecting behaviour (e.g. bio)

• use of inference - lacks scientific rigour

• not backed by research support - research indicates factors other than internal mental events can affect behaviour

• issues of reliability - use of self report