Cognitive Approach

• Overall assumptions:

  • the mind is like a computer
  • our internal mental processes influence our behaviour
  • we can study these internal mental processes scientifically in a lab setting
  • we can rely on inferences (conclusions) to study these internal mental process
• Key features of the cognitive approach:

  • internal mental processes
  • computer and theoretical models
  • inference
  • schemas
  • cognitive neuroscience
• Internal mental processes:

  • the cognitive approach believes behaviour is influenced by thoughts that can be both conscious and unconscious internal mental process
  • these internal mental processes (such as memory, attention or perception) cannot be observed directly, therefore we have to study them indirectly via inference
• Computer and theoretical models:

  theoretical models;

  • a theoretical model is used to provide a visual representation of internal mental processes
  • they provide testable theories about mental processing and these can be studied scientifically
  • they are used to help us make inferences about our thought processes
• Inferences:

  • inference is when we draw conclusions from the behaviours we can see, about the mental processes involved in the behaviour
  • for example, if we cannot do two things at once, it suggests that we have a limited capacity for processing that type of information
• Examples of theoretical models:

  • a theoretical model of how our memory works can be seen in the Multi-Store Model of Memory
  • This was created by Atkinson and Shiffrin and maps out how information gets from the environment to our long-term memory, in a series of stages
• Computer models:

  • a computer model is where the mind is compared to a computer and this analogy is used to explain how human thought works
  • our minds are like a computer and so there is an input, some processing and then an output
  • we can use the Multi-Store Model again here. Information is inputted via our senses. It is encoded into our memory store. It is then retrieved from our long-term memory
• Inference:

  • inference is when we draw conclusions about people's internal mental processes (their thoughts), based on the behaviours that we can see
  • for example, if a psychologist gave participants a list of words to remember and they could only remember 7 words, we would infer that the capacity of short-term memory is around 7 items
• Schemas:

  Schemas are pre-existing building blocks of knowledge built over time which are the mental representation of experiences

  • they enable us to process vast amounts of information rapidly
  • help us understand how to interpret information when there are gaps in knowledge or memory
  • prevent us from becoming overwhelmed by environmental stimuli
• Schemas:

  • schemas can distort our interpretation of sensory information and can cause a biased recall
  • negative/faulty schema can lead to having a pessimistic outlook and have a negative impact on mental health
• The emergence of cognitive neuroscience:

  • cognitive neuroscience aims to explore the neurological basis of internal mental processes, thoughts and disorders (mapping parts of the brain to thought processes like memory or attention)
  • its emerged with improvements in technology, such as fMRI scans. These provide empirical and objective evidence for the role of internal mental processes
  • the term cognitive neuroscience was coined by George Miller (1970s)
  • cognitive neuroscience has been useful in the real world as it has allowed us to look at the neurological basis of certain psychological disorders
• Examples of the emergence of cognitive neuroscience:

  • for example, research has shown that people with OCD have obsessive thoughts due to increased activity of a a part of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)
  • this has resulted in the development of new therapies to reduce the obsessive thoughts and has removed blame and stigma from people with OCD
• Evaluation of the cognitive approach:

  S - a strength of the cognitive approach is that it has empirical evidence from controlled lab experiments

  W - machine reductionism; the human mind is more complex than a computer

  S - practical applications (CBT for depression)

  W - the approach relies on inference; lacking objectivity