Cognitive approach

• Identify three basic assumptions of the cognitive approach.


  Behaviour can only be understood by studying the internal mental processes that occurred before it, and these can be studied scientifically.

  Schemas (mental representations of experience and understanding) influence human behaviour.

  Theoretical and computer models can be used to make inferences (assumptions) about mental processes that cannot be directly observed.
• Outline cognitive psychologists’ study of internal mental processes.


  Cognitive psychologists propose that behaviour can only be understood by studying the internal mental processes that occurred before it.

  Examples of internal mental processes include attention, decision making, memory, visual perception etc.

  Cognitive psychologists propose that these mental processes can be studied scientifically.

  As a result, cognitive psychologists have relied on laboratory experiments and cognitive neuroscience/brain scanning methods.
• Evaluate cognitive psychologists’ study of internal mental processes.


  Relies on making inferences. This is because they cannot be directly observed and so assumptions have to be made about what is happening within the mind. This is a limitation because such inferences can be subjective i.e. based on the interpretations of the researcher. Therefore questions credibility
• Evaluate cognitive psychologists’ study of internal mental processes


  Led to the emergence of cognitive neuroscience. This is because cognitive neuroscience relies on brain scanning methods to investigate internal mental processes and how different brain areas are responsible for them. This is a strength because such research is considered more scientific than making inferences based on participants’ answers/behaviours. Therefore adds credibility.
• Evaluate cognitive psychologists’ study of internal mental processes.


  Led to the practical application of CBT. This is because, by studying internal mental processes, cognitive psychologists identified that psychological disorders such as depression can result from irrational thinking. This then led to the development of CBT as a way of restructuring irrational thinking into more rational, positive thinking. This is a strength because CBT has been found to be an effective treatment for many psychological disorders. Therefore adds credibility.
• Explain what is meant by cognitive neuroscience.


  Cognitive neuroscience refers to the scientific study of how brain structures/processes are responsible for cognitive processes.

  This means it uses brain scanning methods such as fMRI.

  As part of this, participants are given a cognitive task to complete (e.g. memory tasks) while their brain is scanned.

  Any brain areas consistently active during the cognitive task is assumed to be responsible for that cognitive process.
• Evaluate cognitive neuroscience.


  Led to a greater understanding of cognitive problems/abnormalities. For example, cognitive neuroscience research has enabled cognitive psychologists to locate different types of memory in the brain (e.g. how episodic memories are recalled from the right prefrontal cortex while semantic memories are recalled from the left prefrontal cortex). This is a strength because it has enabled a better understanding of memory problems and, in turn, possible treatments. Therefore adds credibility.
• Evaluate cognitive neuroscience.


  Utilises scientific scanning techniques to greatly advance the study of internal mental processes. For example, fMRI relies on highly technical equipment such as magnetic fields and radiofrequency waves. This is a strength because such scientific equipment has great spatial resolution in that it is able to accurately locate brain activity associated with cognitive tasks to within 1mm of its location. Therefore adds credibility.
• Evaluate cognitive neuroscience.


  Brain scanning methods are limited in some areas. For example, while fMRI has high spatial resolution (i.e. it can accurately locate brain activity), it has poor temporal resolution (e.g. it is delayed at detecting the onset of brain activity). This is a limitation because it makes it difficult to establish cause and effect between cognitive tasks/processes and observed brain activity. Therefore questions credibility.
• Outline the role of schema.

  Schema refer to mental representations of experience and understanding.

  They can therefore affect our perceptions, recall and behaviour.

  Different types of schemas exist. One example is self-schemas which refers to our understanding and expectations of ourselves.
• Outline the different types of schemas.


  Object schemas refer to our understanding of different objects and how to use them, so could influence our behaviour.

  Event schemas refer to our understanding of what may happen during an event (such as going to a restaurant), so could influence our recall.

  Role schemas refer to our understanding of how a person in a specific role (e.g. police officer) will behave, so could influence our perceptions of people in those roles.
• Explain two reasons why schema can be helpful.


  Schema can help us predict what will happen based on our prior experiences. E.g. if a child was to join a new school, they could predict what their day might involve.

  Schema can enable us to rapidly process vast amounts of information to prevent us from becoming overwhelmed. E.g. going into a busy restaurant might be overwhelming but, due to our understanding and experiences of restaurants, we will be more prepared for this.
• Explain two reasons why schema can be unhelpful. 


  Schema can distort our interpretation of sensory information so could lead to inaccurate memories. E.g. A witness to a crime whereby the offender wore a hoody may have the schema that teenagers wear hoodies and so may recall that the criminal was a teenager when in fact they could have been an adult.

  Negative self-schemas can lead to poor mental health. E.g. a child who experiences poor performance at school may develop a schema of themselves as not being intelligent, which could lead to low self-esteem. Therefore questions credibility.
• Define ‘inference’.


  Making inferences involves going beyond immediate evidence to make assumptions about cognitive processes. This is because they cannot be directly observed.
• Outline the use of theoretical models to make inferences about mental processes.

  Theoretical models refer to the use of flow charts and diagrams to make inferences about cognitive processes.

  They therefore suggest that the mind processes information in a systematic way.

  The aim of theoretical models is to represent and simplify the process of human thinking.
• Evaluate the use of theoretical models to make inferences about mental processes.


  They are easy to understand. This is because they simplify mental processes by using flow charts and diagrams. This is a strength because it means they can be understood and used amongst the general public e.g. students can utilise the multi-store model of memory when revising to understand how to transfer their knowledge to their long-term memory. Therefore adds credibility.
• Evaluate the use of theoretical models to make inferences about mental processes.

  Often adapted or discarded based on new evidence. For example, the multi-store model proposed that there is just one short-term memory store however the working memory model later described short-term memory as involving multiple components. This is a limitation because it suggests that theoretical models are often overly simplified or offer incomplete explanations about mental processes. Therefore questions credibility.
• Evaluate the use of computer models to make inferences about mental processes.


  A limitation of computer models is that they can be criticised for being machine reductionist. This is because they ignore the influence of emotion and motivation on human behaviour. This is a limitation because it means that computer models cannot be used to explain irrational human behaviours that are often driven by emotion (e.g. a violent outbursts). Therefore questions credibility.
• Evaluate the use of computer models to make inferences about mental processes.


  However, a strength of computer models is that they have led to positive applications in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). This is because AI uses computer models to develop machines that mimic human intelligence. This is a strength because AI has many potential benefits in society such as creating virtual nursing assistants that can be used as a 24/7

  source of support for patients. Therefore adds credibility.
• Outline how the cognitive approach has contributed to our understanding of human behaviour.


  The cognitive approach proposed that behaviour can only be understood by understanding the internal mental processes that occur before it, and that these mental processes should be studied scientifically.

  This led to the emergence of cognitive neuroscience which uses brain scanning techniques to study how different brain structures/functions are responsible for different cognitive processes (e.g. how the prefrontal cortex plays a big role in decision making).
• Outline how the cognitive approach has contributed to our understanding of human behaviour.


  The cognitive approach also proposes how behaviour is influenced by schemas (mental representations of experience and understanding).

  For example, role schemas refer to our understanding of how a person in a specific role (e.g. police officer) will behave, so could influence our perceptions of and how we behave around people in those roles.
• Outline how the cognitive approach has contributed to our understanding of human behaviour.


  The cognitive approach proposed that theoretical and computer models can be used to make inferences about mental processes that cannot be directly observed.

  Theoretical models refer to the use of flow charts and diagrams that aim to simply mental processes (which can be seen in the multi-store model of memory which simplifies how memories and stored and transferred in the brain).
• Evaluate the cognitive approach’s contributions to our understanding of human behaviour.


  The study of internal mental processes relies on making inferences. This is because they cannot be directly observed and so assumptions have to be made about what is happening within the mind. This is a limitation because such inferences rely on the subjective interpretations of the researcher. Therefore questions credibility.
• Evaluate the cognitive approach’s contributions to our understanding of human behaviour.


  The emergence of cognitive neuroscience has meant that more scientific methods are now being used to study internal mental processes. For example, fMRI relies on highly technical equipment such as magnetic fields and radiofrequency waves. This is a strength because such scientific equipment has great spatial resolution in that it is able to accurately locate brain activity associated with cognitive tasks to within 1mm of its location. Therefore adds credibility.