Approaches

• What does the cognitive approach study

  The internal mental processes in between stimulus and response
• Examples of what is studied in the Cognitive Approach

  Perception, Memory and Language
• What happened with the cognitive approach after the development of the computer

  The CA likened the brain to a computer in the same way it has a linear process in the way it inputs, processes, stores and retrieves information
• What is a problem with the computer analogy

  It's machine reductionist

  • likening the brain to a machine ignores the richness and unique nature of human experience.
• What's a more holistic alternative to the cognitive approach

  THE HUMANISTIC APPROACH

  • this considers many factors n a persons life that contribute to their drives and behaviours.
• What does Maslow's hierarchy of needs consider

  Multiple aspects in our lives that we need to fulfil in order to achieve self actualisation (What Maslow believes every human is working to achieve)
• What are the tiers of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

  • phisiological needs
  • safety needs
  • love and belonging
  • esteem
  • self actualisation
  • (self transendence) <- Maslow added this in - it is the need to have a higher power in which we look up to
• Why is the humanistic approach better in comparison to the cognitive approach

  In comparison to the humanistic approach, the cognitive approach provides a reduced account of behaviour, which may not be representative and considerate of all aspects or human behaviour, therefore reducing the validity of the cognitive approach.
• Is the cognitive approach idiographic or nomothetic

  It is mainly nomothetic. This is because it aims to create laws which it then generalises to populations - such as that of the memory models.

  HOWEVER

  Case studies such as that of KF, HM and Clive Wearing are also used to provide evidence as well as falsify claims.
• Multistore model of Memory


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• Whar are theoretical models

  The CA proposes theoretical models which are models that display how information flows through the brain in a linear process
• Examples of CA theoretical models

  • Multistore Model
  • Working Memory Model
• CASE STUDY OF KF

  SHallice and Warrington (KF): KF had a motorcycle accident and was left with brain damage.

  • STM for verbal = impaired
  • STM for visual = intact

  This shows that unlike the claims of Atkinson and Shiffrins Multi Store Model, STM is not actually one unitary store, but composed of multiple substructures.

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• KF's case study is an example of how combining an idiographic and nomothetic approach can lead to more developed ideas.

  This makes them more accurate and valid and leads to psychology being more accepted in the field of science
• Working Memory Model - Baddley and Hitch 


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• Explain the Central Executive

  • All information passes through the central executive
  • All components communicate via the central executive
  • Modality free = receptive to all senses

  Robins: Involved in complexed tasks such as playing chess

  
  

  COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE: Braver studied the brain using fMRI - tasks thought to recruit the CE (such as playing chess) when scanned in an fMRI showed an area in the PFC lit up - this shows us the CE is in the PFC
• Explain the Phonological Loop

  A temporary store for auditory information

  INNEAR EAR

  • (temporarily) stores the words you hear

  INNER VOICE

  • Repeats and maintains the words you hear (the voice in your head)

  PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN LEARNING TO READ
• Explain the Visuospatial Sketchpad

  Temporary store for visual and spatial information

  INNER SCRIBE

  • records arrangements of objects in the visual field + stores and transfers this information to LTM

  VISUAL CACHE

  • store information about form and shape
• Explain the Episodic Buffer

  Added to the WMM in 2000

  Integrates information from the VSSP and PL so it is cohesive and makes sense.

  • another function is to recall information (retrieve) from LMT and integrate is when the Working memory requires
• AO3 For the WMM: Baddley Dual Task Study

  Baddeley found that tasks were performed significantly better when they didn't require the same slave system to be recruited

  • this is because this then requires for them to compete.

  FOR EXAMPLE:

  • visual + visual or verbal + verbal = performed significantly worse because the slave systems competed so taks weren't performed to their full abilities.
• What are schemas 


  Schemas are internal metal frameworks that organise and interpret information
• What role do schemas play in the cognitive approach

  The CA looks at how schemas can influence our behaviour
• Schemas are also known as packets of information that can create mental shortcuts that guide us so every situation isn't brand new

  • e.g. a schema for a restaurant
• AO3 for schemas


  +: They help us in our everyday life and aid us with our perception of the world (reduce the cognitive load)

  • can create cognitive biases that can lead to depression
• What did Beck say can cause depression

  • negative self schemas and congitive biases (faulty schemas)

  This leads to the cognitive triad of depressive thoughts - negative views of self, negative views of the world, negative views of the future
• AO3 for usefulness of cognitive approach to depression

  Lead to CBT which has real world applications in improving the quality of life for many)

  HOWEVER alternate biological explanation of depression can explain depression as the result of neural imbalances and uses drug therapy
• What is Ellis' cognitive explanation for depression

  Ellis ABC Model

  A = Activating Event

  B = Belief (irrational or rational)

  C = Consequence

  If the belief is irrational this is what leads to a negative consequence (depression)
• What is the gender schema theory (cognitive explanation of gender)

  Martin and Halverson proposed that after gdner identity, children actively seek information to confirm gendered behaviours. This leads to the development of a gender schema.

  • support: McConaghy, Slaby and Thompson
• What is congitive neuroscience

  Understanding and studying where in the brain these internal mental processes take place. (localisation of function)
• What led to the emergence of cognitive neuroscience

  Advances in technology such as fMRI's
• COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE

  
  

  Cognitive = internal mental processes

  Neuroscience = relating to the nervous system/neural and synaptic transmission
• What was Broca's study (as part of Cognitive Neuroscience)

  Brocas area was discovered due to a patient called Tan who could only say the word tan.

  Post mortem on Tan's brain discovered damage to a small area in the left frontal lobe, as discovered by Paul Broca

  Tans condition was also termed Broca's Aphasia

  Brocas area = language production
• What did Braver find about the Central Executive

  Robins proposed complex tasks such as playing chess require the recruitment of the Central Executive

  Braver studied the CE using fMRI and found that when PPTs completed tasks thought to recruit the CE, an area in the PFC lit up

  • This shows empirically the localisation of the CE
• AO3: Congitive Neuroscience: Practical APplications

  CBT + EWT
• AO3: Cognitive Approach 


  Behaviourists argue that cognitive psychology is unscientific and internal mental processes lack empirical evidence

  • Behaviourists believe studing behaviour requires it to be objective and measurable.
• AO3 negative Lab STudies

  E.g. Miller: STM has a capacity of 9.3 numbers and 7.3 letters

  Studying this required word lists and number lists. This has low mundane realisme due to the atificial stimuli = low extrnal validity = low generalisability to populations outside the lab study
• AO3 positive of Lab Studies

  High control of extraneous variables = high replicability (standardised procedure) = falsifiable (feature of a true science according to Popper)