Cognitive Approach

• What are the key assumptions of the cognitive approach?


  Our thoughts, emotions, beliefs and attitudes all directly influence our behaviour. It suggests the mind is separate from the brain and focuses on internal mental processes and schemas.
• What is introspection?


  Introspection breaks down all thoughts, feelings and sensations to make the mind more simple and measurable.
• What are the three parts of the unconscious mind?


  Id - primitive, aggressive and sexual urges

  Ego - prevents us acting on our id but is more realistic morally than the superego

  Superego - highly moral side that wants to be idyllic.
• What are schemas?

  Schemas use past experiences to help with incoming information and how to respond appropriately. It is useful when processing lots of new information to avoid being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli.
• How does advances in brain scanning techniques contribute to the cognitive approach?


  Scientists have been able to systematically observe and describe internal mental processes by a neurological basis. They show brain activity and signs of mental disorders.
• What is a strength of the cognitive approach?


  Use of brain scans - more objective so gives high levels of control and validity
• What is a weakness of the cognitive approach?


  Uses inferences - makes it too subjective as it relies on people's opinions of the observed behaviours.