the cognitive approach

the cognitive approach is an approach in psychology that studies internal mental processes, such as memory, thinking, perception and attention, to explain behaviour

the role of schema

schema= are packages of ideas developed through experience

  • as we get older our schemas become more detailed

  • schemas enable us to process info quicker + avoids us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli

  • schemas can also distort intepretations which is perceptual error

perceptual error: are mistakes in interpreting sensory info or judging situations due to factors like cognitive biases,emotions,past experiences +environmental condition

types of schemas

R O L E : ideas about expected behaviour from someone in a certain role, setting or situation

e.g. you’d expect a chef to be a good cook and have clean hands

E V E N T : info about what happens in a situation

e.g. your at a football game, so you know there will be cheering

S E L F : info about ourselves based on physical characteristics, personality, beliefs + values which can affect the way we act

e.g. “I’m an introvert” or “I am tall”


the use of models

the first digital computer was made in the 1950s-60s

this gave psychologists a ‘model’ for the human mind

  • computer model was a way of representing processes taking place in the human mind

  • the multi-store model and working memory model represent an aspect of mental activity in terms of input, processing and output


key phrases

inference: a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence + reasoning; cognitive psychologists research conclusions based on observed behaviour

schema: a mental framework of beliefs + expectations that influence cognitive processing developed from experience

eval

strengths

USES OBJECTIVE + SCIENTIFIC METHODS

→cognitive psychologists employ highly controlled + rigorous methods of studies so researchers can infer cognitive processes

→lab studies are used to process objective data

HELPS TREAT DEPRESSION

→Aaron Beck’s cognitive approach to treating depression is : negative triad, involving an individual’s view of the world

→depression may occur through negative thoughts (from triad), so there’s ways to challenge these thoughts through cognitive behavioural therapy

weaknesses

MACHINE REDUCTIONISM

→ignores the influence of human emotions + motivation on the cognitive system

→research has found emotional factors affect memory such as the influence of anxiety on eye witnesses

→this weakens the approach’s validity

CANNOT BE OBSERVED

→processes like memory, thinking and attention can’t be seen so researchers have to infer them

→conclusions on mental processes might not be completely accurate