Cognitive approach

What is the first assumption of the cognitive approach?

‘in order to understand behaviour, we must study the internal mental processes ( Memory, attention and thinking) that control how we behave’

Finish the sentence, ‘mental process cannot….’

mental processes cannot be directly observed and are private, therefore we can only make inferences that they have taken place

What is a Schema?

Schemas are packages of information developed through experience

What does schemas act as?

They act as a ‘mental framework’ for the interpretation of incoming information received by the cognitive system

What study do we look at for schemas

Bugelski and Alampay- the rat man

What is the method for Bugelski and Alampay rat man study

Two groups of p’s were shown a sequence of pictures :either a number of faces or animals. They were then shown the ambigious (unclear) figure the rat man.

What are the results of the rat man study

The p’s who saw the pictures of faces, described the picture as a man. The p’s who saw the pictures of animals, perceived the picture as a rat

How are schemas applied to phobias

Phobias suggest that the condition is caused by people having irrational faulty schemas in which they exaggerate the threat posed by the situation

Another strength of the CA is that it has been used for the treatment of CBT, how does CBT help treat phobias?

1. identify the irrational thinking

2. Challenge the irrational thinking

3. Change the irrational thinking→ rational

What is the aim of Tomarken study

to investigate whether people with a snake phobia exaggerate the threat posed by snakes

What is the method of Tomarken study

Two groups of p’s, a group who had a phobia of snakes and a control group. He showed them a number of slides. These included pictures of snakes and neutral objects. He asked them how many snakes, trees they were in the picture

What is the results of tomarken study

the group that had a phobia of snakes exaggerate how many snakes they saw. this shows that the p’s have a faulty irrational schemas making them exaggerate the threat posed