cognitive approach

• What does cognitive psychology focus on?


  Cognitive psychology focuses on how people perceive, store, manipulate, and interpret information.
• Why do cognitive psychologists believe it is necessary to study internal mental processes?


  To understand behavior more comprehensively.
• What model is commonly used in cognitive psychology to describe information processing?


  An information processing model.
• How is the information processing approach related to computers?


  It was first used to describe how computers process information.
• What are the three computing metaphors often used in cognitive psychology?


  'Encoding', 'processing', and 'retrieval'.
• What are the key processes studied in cognitive psychology?


  • Perception
  • Memory
  • Thinking
  • Problem solving
• What does the cognitive approach recognize about mental processes?


  They cannot be studied directly but must be inferred from behavior.
• What is a schema?

  A schema is a cognitive framework that helps organize and interpret information.
• How do schemas help us in daily life?


  Schemas allow us to take shortcuts when interpreting large amounts of information.
• What is a potential downside of using schemas?


  Schemas can cause us to exclude information that does not conform to our established ideas.
• How can schemas lead to stereotypes?


  They help us fill in gaps in information, leading to fixed expectations.
• What are theoretical models in cognitive psychology?


  • Simplified representations based on research evidence
  • Examples include the multi-store model of memory and the working memory model
  • Often depicted with boxes and arrows indicating processes
• Who proposed the working memory model and when?


  Baddeley and Hitch in 1974.
• What is the role of computer models in cognitive psychology?


  They explain human information processing using computer analogies.
• How does working memory relate to computer memory?


  Working memory is analogous to RAM, which is cleared after tasks.
• What advancements have been made in cognitive neuroscience?


  • Non-invasive neuroimaging techniques (e.g., PET, fMRI)
  • Study of living brain structures
  • Understanding brain activity related to cognitive processes
• What did Burnett et al. (2009) find about brain activity related to guilt?


  Several brain regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex, are active.
• What are the strengths of the cognitive approach?


  • Applications in various psychology areas (e.g., social psychology, psychopathology)
  • Scientific methods provide rigorous evidence
• Why is the cognitive approach considered scientific?


  It uses experimental methods for collecting and evaluating evidence.
• What is a limitation of using computer models in cognitive psychology?


  They do not account for human errors and memory limitations.
• What aspect of human behavior does the cognitive approach largely ignore?


  The role of emotion and motivation.
• Why might cognitive psychology studies lack ecological validity?


  They often use tasks unrelated to everyday experiences.
• What are the criticisms of cognitive psychology research?


  • Lacks ecological validity
  • Uses artificial test materials
  • Findings may not generalize to real-life situations