Cognitive Approach to Psychology Notes

Cognitive Approach to Understanding Behavior

The cognitive approach to behavior suggests that humans are similar to computers in how they process information. This approach emphasizes the study of cognitive processes such as memory, schema processing, and decision-making while investigating how these cognitive processes remain reliable despite being influenced by emotions. Furthermore, psychologists in cognitive neuroscience and social psychology study how emotions affect cognitive processes, concluding that cognitive psychology should adopt a holistic view of human behavior.

Models of Memory

Memory models provide frameworks to understand how humans process memory. The two primary models discussed are:

  1. Multi-Store Model (MSM):

    • Proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968), this model posits that memory consists of three components:
      • Sensory Register (SM):
      • Characterized by encoding sensory information;
      • Retains information for less than 1 second (decays rapidly).
      • Short-Term Store (STS):
      • Primarily acoustic encoding, with a capacity of 7 ± 2 chunks of information and a duration of 18-30 seconds;
      • Information in STS decays without rehearsal.
      • Long-Term Store (LTS):
      • Mainly semantic encoding;
      • Stores information indefinitely, retrieved into STS when needed.
    • The MSM model describes a linear process of information from sensory memory to short-term memory and then to long-term memory. Empirical research, such as Glanzer and Cunitz (1966) that demonstrated the primacy/recency effect, supports the MSM.

  2. Working Memory Model (WMM):

    • Suggested by Baddeley and Hitch (1974), the WMM expands on STS by dividing it into sub-components:
      • Central Executive (CE):
      • Manages information flow and directs attention and processing.
      • Phonological Loop (PL) and Visuo-spatial Sketchpad (VSS):
      • Processes verbal and visual information respectively, with an Episodic Buffer integrating information.
    • Supporting research, such as Paulesu et al. (2003), correlated the components of WMM with specific regions of the brain (Broca’s Area) during memory tasks.
Schema Theory

A schema refers to cognitive frameworks that help organize and interpret new information.
Schemas influence memory processes in how we encode, store, and retrieve information while also contributing to biases, like confirmation bias. Cohen (1981) demonstrated that schemas influence stereotypes through experiments on memory recall, while Loftus and Palmer (1974) showed how leading questions could alter memories of events, illustrating the implications of schemas in eyewitness testimony.

Thinking and Decision Making

The dual-system model proposed by Kahneman (2011) divides thinking into:

  1. System 1: Intuitive thinking which is quick, automatic, and prone to biases.
  2. System 2: Rational thinking, which is slower, controlled, and less biased.
    • Research by Kahneman and Tversky (1983) found a conjunction fallacy in decision-making illustrating the predominance of intuitive reasoning over rational processes.
Emotional Influence on Cognition

Research shows that emotion significantly impacts memory, notably through the formation of Flashbulb Memories (FBMs) as defined by Brown and Kulik (1977). FBMs are highly vivid and detailed memories of significant emotional events, which may fade over time while still being more resilient than ordinary memories. For example, Sharot et al. (2007) conducted an fMRI study showing that those located near the World Trade Center on 9/11 had stronger and more vivid memories associated with the event, specifically activating the amygdala, which modulates emotional memory.

Research Methods

Cognitive research employs a variety of methods:

  1. Surveys/Questionnaires: Used for gathering quantitative data about cognitive processes. Examples include the studies concerning memory reliability.
  2. Experiments: Provide causal relationships by manipulating independent variables. They can provide strong evidence of cause-and-effect relationship due to their controlled environments, though they might suffer from lower ecological validity.
  3. Case Studies: Allow researchers to explore real-life incidences in-depth but may have limitations in generalizability.
Ethical Considerations

When conducting cognitive research, ethical considerations such as protection from harm and social sensitivity must be adhered to. For example, sensitive topics surrounding eyewitness testimony or cognitive biases should be communicated carefully to avoid misinterpretation and distress in participants and the general population.

Overall, the cognitive approach is comprehensive, offering a multi-faceted perspective on understanding human behavior, integrating various models and theories backed by diverse research methods.