cognitive approach

• what are the key assumptions of the cognitive approach (AO1)?


  • examines internal mental processes like perception, memory, attention, and consciousness - all these essential processes work together to help us understand and respond to our environment.
  • because these processes cannot be directly observed, psychologists study them indirectly by making inferences about what is going on based on human behaviour.
• what are schemas?

  • schemas are pockets of information gained through experience. they are internal mental shortcuts that allow us to process information quickly, sometimes whithout thinking.
  • schemas enable top down processing allowing people to predict outcomes without analysing every detail - this helps deal with ambiguity but can lead to errors, such as prejudice and discrimination.
• what is meant by assimilation?

  • refers to refining existing knowledge
• what is meant by accommodation?

  • refers to adding/creating new schema
• what are computer models used for?

  • used to understand and explain how the human mind processes information.
  • these models compare the brain to a computer, using the analogy that the mind functions like a machine with inputs, processing, and outputs.
• what are theoretical models?

  • used to represent and study internal processes visually, often through flowcharts.
  • e.g. the multi-store model of memory by Atkinson and Shiffrin.
• what are the strengths of the cognitive approach (AO3)?

  • lab experiments - reliable, objective, and replicable - has scientific rigour.
  • real-life applications - in the form of the cognitive interview (achieved more detailed and accurate eye witness testimonies) and CBT for depression.
• what are the limitations of the cognitive approach (AO3)?


  • lacks ecological validity as lab experiments do not reflect real life.
  • lab experiments may lead to demand characteristics.
  • lacks mundane realism as there are often artificial tests/tasks.
  • reductionist - reduces complex human behaviours down to computer models.