cognitive

• the cognitive approach is in direct contrast to the behaviourist approach
• the cognitive approach argues mental processes can, and should, be studied scientifically
• investigates human behaviour such as

  • memory
  • perception
  • thinking
• studies 'private' processes that cannot be observed so cognitive psychologists study them indirectly by making inferences about what is going on inside people's minds on the basis of their behaviour
• schema - person's beliefs or expectations
• Schema are 'packages' of ideas and information developed through experience. They act as a mental framework for the interpretation of incoming information received by the cognitive system.
• Schema enable us to process lots of information quickly and this is useful as a sort of mental shortcut that prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli.
• As we get older, our schema become more detailed and sophisticated
• However, schema may also distort our interpretations of sensory information, leading to perceptual errors