Cognitive Approach

• When did the Cognitive Approach emerge?

  In the 1950s
• What is the key belief of the Cognitive Approach?

  To explain behaviour in terms of thought and attitudes
• What are the main assumptions of the Cognitive Approach?

  1. Mental processes of the mind should be studied.
  2. They should be studied scientifically by making inferences.
  3. The mind works like a computer.
  4. Models should be used to demonstrate the function of mental processes.
• How does information affect our behaviour according to the Cognitive Approach?

  How we process information affects how we behave
• What method should be used to study internal mental processes?

  Lab experiments
• What are some examples of internal mental processes?

  • Thinking
  • Perception
  • Attention
  • Language
  • Memory
• What is thinking in the context of internal mental processes?

  The process of manipulating information to reason, solve problems, and make decisions
• How is perception defined in the Cognitive Approach?

  The process of taking in and making sense of information from the environment
• What does attention refer to in cognitive processes?

  The process of focusing on particular sources of information
• How is language defined in the Cognitive Approach?

  The use of mental symbols to represent information in the mind
• What is memory in the context of cognitive processes?

  The process of retaining and recalling information
• What is an inference?

  The act of drawing conclusions from evidence
• What can we infer about the capacity of short-term memory based on word recall experiments?

  It is approximately 7 words (+/-2)
• What is a limitation of making inferences in cognitive psychology?

  The inference may not be correct, making it potentially unscientific
• What is low ecological validity in cognitive research?

  When laboratory tasks do not reflect normal mental processes
• Why is self-reporting a limitation in cognitive psychology?

  People may not be truthful or may be distracted
• What are schemas in cognitive psychology?

  • Mental structures representing aspects of the world
  • Develop from simple to sophisticated as we grow
  • Unique and dependent on experiences
  • Guide behaviour in certain situations
• How do mental processes work together according to cognitive psychology?

  1. Pay attention to information
  2. Perceive its features
  3. Store it in memory
  4. Name it using existing language
• How do schemata influence memory?

  We are more likely to remember information that fits our schemas
• What is the computer analogy in cognitive psychology?

  The comparison of the human mind to a computer in terms of information processing
• What does the hardware and software analogy refer to in cognitive psychology?

  Hardware is the brain and software is the internal mental processes
• What are the differences between computers and humans in the cognitive analogy?

  • Computers lack feelings and emotions
  • Computers are made of metal/plastic, humans are organic
  • Computers have limited memory, humans have unlimited memory
• What are computer models in cognitive psychology?

  Programs that mimic how mental processes work
• What are theoretical models in cognitive psychology?

  Models that depict stages and explain steps within a mental process
• What is cognitive neuroscience?

  The scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes
• What technologies are used in cognitive neuroscience?

  fMRI, EEG, and PET scans
• How does cognitive neuroscience observe mental processes?

  By scanning brains during tasks to see which parts are active
• What are some practical applications of cognitive neuroscience?

  • Locate different types of memory in the brain
  • Use computer simulations to test theories
  • Study mental processing in patients with disorders
• What is a strength of the cognitive approach regarding its applications?

  It has led to effective therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Why is the cognitive approach considered scientific?

  It relies on research evidence from experiments and brain scans
• What is a limitation of reducing mental processes to measurable variables?

  It may lessen how much findings apply to real life
• What is machine reductionism in cognitive psychology?

  Describing the mind using terms borrowed from computers
• What is a limitation of relying on inferences in cognitive psychology?

  Inferences may be incorrect and not reflect reality
• Why are inferences considered the most scientific way to study mental processes?

  They are based on evidence from experiments