the cognitive approach

• what does cognitive mean

  mental processes
• what is the cognitive approach

  • it states mental processes affect our behaviour, argues that internal mental processes should be studied scientificall.
  • in observable processes like attention, memory and decision making etc
• what is inference

  going beyond evidence presented to make assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed
• what are theoretical models

  • cognitive approach likens human mind to computers
  • theoretical models understand how info processing takes place
  • suggests info flows through cognitive system through input and storage retrieval
• what’s computer models

  • used to compare the mind to a computer and are software simulations of mental processes that are created in collab with scientists
  • use concepts of central process unit and coding and use of stores to link the human mind to computers
  • these relate to concrete info
• what is a schema

  • schemas are building blocks of knowledge that help organise and interpret info into the brain
  • these pockets of info help us make sense of the world around us & develop through experiences
• what are schemes used to minimise

  cognitive load
• what’s hard determinism

  human behaviour and actions are wholly determined by external factors therefore humans do not have genuine free will
• what’s soft determinism 


  human behaviour is constrained by the environment or biological makeup but only to a certain extent
• what’s cognitive neuroscience

  • study of influence of brain structures on mental processes
  • 1860s paul broca identified in the frontal lobe that if damaged could impair speech production
• strengths and weaknesses of the cognitive approach

  😭- based on research that lacks external validity

  😍- used scientific and objective methods

  😭- based on machine reductionism

  😍- useful contribution to the development of psychological treatment