cognitive approach

• Cognitive psychology focuses on internal mental processes such as perception, memory, thinking and problem solving
• The role of a schema is to simplify the processing of information and to help us make sense of the world, acting as a mental framework for interpretation of incoming info
• the cognitive approach believes that the way we interpret our environment resembles how computers process information
• cognitive neuroscience is the study of the brain and its functions in relation to cognition, often using fmri and pet scans
• an example of an application of the cognitive approach is the use of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to treat depression
• a weakness of the cognitive approach is that it fails to take into consideration biological factors which may influence thought processes
• the main assumption of the cognitive approach - argues internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically. these processes cannot be directly observed so psychologists rely on inferences
• the cognitive approach uses theoretical and computer models in order to help understanding of internal mental processes. theoretical models are abstract and computer models are concrete
• one theoretical model used in the cognitive approach is the information processing approach which suggests that information flows through a cognitive system in a sequence of stages - input, storage and retrieval
• internal mental processes - operations of the mind such as perception and attention that mediate between stimulus and response.
• inferences - psychologists draw conclusions about the ways that mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour
• one strength of the cognitive approach is that it is highly scientific. lab studies are used to conduct investigations, producing reliable data that inferences can be made from. BUT, the focus on inference rather than direct observation means the cognitive approach loses some scientific value as it is too theoretical
• the cognitive approach has real life applications, it improves our understanding of internal mental processes and so can help us to identify irrational thought processes and understand mental disorders such as depression - helps develop treatments