Cognitive approach

• THE STUDY OF INTERNAL MENTAL PROCESSES

  • The cognitive approach studies information processing. Selecting important information (attention), using it to solve problems (thinking), storing it in memory and retrieving it as and when it is needed.The cognitive approach must be studied indirectly by inferring what goes on as a result of measuring behaviour. This enables cognitive psychologists to develop theories about the mental processes that led to the observed behaviour.
• What is a schema?

  A cognition framework that helps to organize and interpret information in the brain
• How do schemas help individuals process information?


  They allow individuals to make sense of new information and take shortcuts in interpretation
• In what way do schemas assist in interpreting large amounts of information?


  They help us take shortcuts when interpreting huge amounts of information daily
• What is a potential downside of using schemas when interpreting information?


  They can cause us to exclude information that does not conform to our established ideas
• How do schemas influence our beliefs and ideas?


  They lead us to focus on information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs
• What is a consequence of schemas in relation to stereotypes?


  They may lead to the development of stereotypes that are difficult to disconfirm
• What happens when we encounter new and conflicting information in relation to schemas?


  We may struggle to disconfirm our established stereotypes
• What are theoretical models in cognitive psychology?


  Simplified representations of a particular mental process based on current research evidence
• Why are theoretical models often considered incomplete?


  Because they are frequently changed, updated, and refined
• What is an example of a theoretical model mentioned in the study material?


  The working memory model
• How do computer models relate to human cognition?


  They use computer analogies as representations of human cognition
• How does the concept of working memory fit into the computer model?


  It fits as a temporary workspace similar to how RAM is cleared and reset
• What does RAM stand for in the context of computer models?


  Random Access Memory
• What are the characteristics of theoretical models in cognitive psychology?


  • Simplified representations of mental processes
  • Based on current research evidence
  • Often incomplete and informal
  • Frequently changed, updated, and refined
• What is the relationship between working memory and computer models?


  • Working memory is a temporary workspace
  • Similar to RAM in computers
  • RAM is cleared and reset after tasks
• THE EMERGENCE OF COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE

  • Cognitive neuroscience: An area of psychology dedicated to the underlying neural bases of cognitive functions.
  • The use of non-invasive neuroimaging e.g: Positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI) helps psychologists understand how the brain supports different cognitive activities in specific circumstances.
• What is a key application of the cognitive approach in psychology?


  It can be applied in any other area of psychology.
• How does research in social cognition benefit psychologists?


  It helps psychologists understand how we form impressions of other people.
• What does the cognitive approach to psychopathology explain?


  It explains how dysfunctional behavior can be traced back to faulty thinking processes.
• What type of therapy has been successful for treating depression and OCD according to the cognitive approach?

  Cognitive-based therapy.
• What advantage do experimental methods provide researchers in the cognitive approach?


  They provide a method for collecting and evaluating evidence to reach accurate conclusions.
• Why are conclusions about the mind based on more than common sense and introspection?


  Because common sense and introspection can lead to misleading pictures of mental processes.
• What is a limitation of human cognition compared to computers?


  Humans can make mistakes, ignore information, or forget stored information.
• What aspect of cognitive processes does the cognitive approach fail to address?


  It fails to explain why different cognitive processes take place.
• What role has been ignored by the cognitive approach according to the evaluation?


  The role of emotion and motivation.
• Why is motivation considered irrelevant to computers but not to humans?


  Because computers do not have emotions or motivations.