Cognitive

• Internal mental processes

  Believes that internal mental processes such as memory, attention, thinking, perception and language should be studied to find out why people behave as they do
• Mental processes can be studied in a scientific, objective way through experiments
• Inferences

  Mental processes cannot be observed directly, cognitive researchers study these processes indirectly by making inferences

  Inferences is the process where cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour
• Theoretical and Computer models

  This is one way internal processes can be studied, through the development and testing of theoretical and computer modelling.
• Theoretical model

  These are similar to models or types of programming used with computers such as flowcharts.

  One theoretical model is the information processing approach which suggests that information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages that include input storage and retrieval.
• Computer models

  This is where the mind is compared to a computer (computer analogy) by suggesting there are similarities in the way information is processed.

  These models used concepts of central processing (the brain), the concept of coding (turning information into a format) and the use of stores (to hold information).
• Some computer models of the mind have proved useful in the development of 'thinking machine' or artificial intelligence
• Schemas

  These are a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing.

  They are packages of ideas and information developed through experience. As we go through life, we develop representations of how things look and work.
• Babies are born with a simple motor (movement) schema for innate (biologically programmed) behaviours such sucking and grasping.

  As we age our schemes become more sophisticated. We develop mental representations for everything from the concept of psychology to what a typical zombie looks like
• Schema

  Strength - the function of schemas enable us to process information quickly. They facilitate a shortcut to processing that prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli.
• Schema

  Weakness - Schema may also distort our interpretations of sensory information, leading to perceptual errors
• The emergence of cognitive neuroscience

  Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of brain activities on mental processes.

  Mapping brain areas to specific cognitive functions has a long history in psychology. Such as Paul Broca
• Brain imaging techniques

  Brain techniques such as fMRI and PET scans have allowed scientists to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes
• Brain imaging techniques have also proved useful in establishing the neurological origins of some mental disorders

  The focus of cognitive neuroscience has has expanded recently to include the use of computer generated models that are designed to read the brain. This has led to the development of mind mapping techniques known as brain fingerprinting
• AO3 - scientific and objective methods

  It adopts scientific procedures to develop and test theories using experimental techniques producing reliable objective data

  The emergence of cognitive neuroscience has allowed biology and psychology to come together.

  This means that the approach has enabled the study of the mind to establish a credible scientific basis
• AO3 - useful

  Has been used in psychopathology to explain how dysfunctional behaviour can be explained by dysfunctional thinking.

  This had led to the successful treatment of depression and OCD using CBT.
• AO3 - less determinist that other approaches

  The approach is founded on soft determinism. Behaviour is determined by our cognitive abilities but that we can think and choose how to behave. This is therefore offers a more realistic way of explaining behaviour
• AO3 - takes on interactionist approach

  The approach sides with neither nature or nurture side of the debate. The approach recognises that certain mental processes are innate but are further shaped and developed by environmental experiences.

  This makes it a more generalisable approach
• AO3 - mechanistic reductionism

  The computer analogy used in the cognitive approach and is an example of mechanistic reductionism as it broadly ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system and how this may affect information processed.

  Suggests it may not always be a valid approach
• AO3 - further limitation of computer models

  There are differences between the type of information processing that takes place in computers and the human mind.

  Computers do not make mistakes or forget things the way humans do. Suggesting its not valid
• AO3 - simplistic

  Ignores biology and the influence of genes as well as individual and personality differences between people. Therefore may not be entirely accurate
• AO3 - lab research

  Based on experimental research which is often based on artificial tasks which are supposed to represent mental processes but possibly do not. Suggests the approach lacks validity.