Cognitive Approach

• what does the Cognitive Approach argue?

  that internal mental processes like memory, perception and thinking should be studies scientifically as they are areas that are neglected by the other approaches
• What is a schema?

  a cognitive/ mental framework or a pocket of information that helps organize, influence and interpret information.
• what schemas are babies born with?

  simple motor neuron schemas for innate behaviours such as sucking and grasping
• what can schemas do?

  • process lots of information quickly
  • influence our experiences in later life
• what is a weakness of schemas?

  • distortion of our interpretations -> leading perceptual errors
• what are the cognitive approaches within psychology?

  • theoretical models (informational processing approaches)
  • computer models (AI)
  • schemas
  • cognitive neuroscience
  • brain fingerprinting
• What is cognitive neuroscience?

  the scientific study of the neurological basis of mental processes using brain imaging techniques eg MRI & PET scans
• what are some studies in cognitive neuroscience?

  • Broca 1860 - observed damage to the frontal lobe can permanently effect speech function
  • Buckner & Peterson 1996 - observed that episodic and semantic memories may be located in opposite sides of the brain of prefrontal cortex & the central executive was located near
• what techniques are used in cognitive neuroscience?

  • scanning techniques -> MRI & PET scans -> useful for establishing mental disorders e.g OCD
  • mind-mapping techniques -> brain fingerprinting
• what is a strength of the Cognitive Approach?

  scientific & objective methods -> cognitive neuroscience (MRI)

  • able to infer cognitive processes through theories
  • lab studies -> replicable data seen & objective data

  this is a strength because it gives the approach credible scientific basis towards the study of the mind, the data produced is reliable and accurate/valid as it is not susceptible to human emotions and issues
• what is a weakness of the Cognitive Approach?

  Research lacks external validity

  • uses lab studies
  • based on inferences

  this is a weakness because the approach doesn't relate to the external environment as it has an artificial task and stimulus. it is also not directly observed and is sometimes a theoretical and abstract approach
• what is a positive consequence of the cognitive approach?

  real life application

  • dominant approach in psychology
  • contributed to AI robots
  • made advances in living in the future

  this is a positive because the approach has improved the reliability of EWT through lie detection and can be applied to the treatment of depression & improves the quality of life for amputees
• what is a negative consequence of the cognitive Approach?

  machine reductionist

  • suggests that humans are machines
  • says that human memories can be affected by emotions and therefore affect EWTs

  this is a negative because robots and computers ignore human information and emotion and motivation of the cognitive system, which weakens the validity of the approach
• why is less determinist a strength in the Cognitive Approach?

  less determinist: softer determinism than hard determinism

  • soft determinism -> having free will but you are also influence by internal and external factors ( as you are born with some schemas as a baby)

  this is a strength because it shows that a person still has emotions and thought processes which allows us choice in how we think, therefore this approach has face validity