Cognitive

• Assumptions:

  1.Internal mental processes cause behaviour.

  2.Mental processes can be studied indirectly, and we can make inferences
• Internal processes, information, processing, encoding, theoretical model, computer model, input, output, schema, storage/capacity, cognitive neuroscience, mapping, memory, Broca’s area, CBT.
• Paul Broca (1960): discovered that damage to this part of the brain led to difficulties/impairments with speech production. He therefore coined/termed this part of the brain as Broca’s area.

   

  Tulving et al (1997): Found that different types of LTM are stored in different areas of the brain. Right frontal cortex = episodic memory. Left frontal context = semantic memory. Cerebellum = procedural memory.
• ü  Scientific – use of brain scans, lab experiments and standardised procedures makes it scientific.

  ü  Soft determinism – whilst the cognitive approach is determinism in its belief that internal processes dictate our behaviour, it does state that we can alter these.

  Ø  Not scientific - Indirect method of studying behaviour. Reliant on the ability to make inferences and theoretical models.

  Ø  Machine reductionism – explains behaviour based on the single part of computer/machine components instead of considering other factors.

   
• Determinism - although soft determinism it still suggests that our behaviour is determined by internal processes.

  Reductionism – reduces behaviour down to machine like responses e.g., process/encoding of info in the brain.

  Mostly scientific – uses lab studies and brain scans which is scientific however it also uses theoretical models and indirect methods which rely on inferences which is not scientific.