The Cognitive Approach

• Cognitive approach

  Looking at internal mental processes (perception and thinking) and how they influence behaviour

  • Focusing on how people store, manipulate & interpret information
• Theoretical model


  Simplified representations of a mental process based on research

  • Often diagrams e.g. the Multi-store model
  • Theoretical models show how information flows through a cognitive system

  
• Inference

  An assumption about something that cannot be directly observed, going beyond immediate research. We cannot directly observe what is happening in the brain during certain behaviours so psychologists make inferences
• Computer model


  Using computer analogies to represent human cognition

  • there are similarities in computers and brains in the way information is processed
  • These models use use the concepts of a central processing unit (the brain), coding (turning information into useful format) and the use of "stores" to hold information
• Schema

  A cognitive framework that helps to organise and interpret information in the brain, helping individuals make sense of new information

  • Built up through experiences, schema increases as we age
  • Act as a framework of how to act in certain situations
  • Help us know how to interpret information if there are gaps
• Why is a schema useful?

  • Schemas help us predict what will happen in the world,based on our experiences. e.g. How to behave in a restaurant (knowing to use cutlery, instead of hands in a fast food place)
  • Help prevent being overwhelmed in environmental stimuli, you know what to do. e.g. At an airport in a foreign country you know you must drop your bags off ect.
• Why is a schema not useful

  Stereotypes are developed in the schema which are difficult to disconfirm, leading to prejudice

  Schemas can also lead to inaccurate eyewitness testimonies
• Cognitive neuroscience

  Scientific study of the influence of the brain structure on mental processes

  • mapping the brain areas to specific cognitive functions (e.g. frontal lobe linked to speech production) .
  • Cognitive neuroscience is done by looking at those with brain damage (e.g. HM) and seeing how it effects their cognitive abilities.
  • Or by giving patients PET and fMRI scans whilst getting them to take on cognitive tasks and seeing which area on the brain is being used
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  The cognitive approach has many applications


  It can be applied to many areas of psychology

  • Cognitive research helps us understand how we interpret the acts of others, in social psychology
  • Explains in psychopathology how people acting disfunctionally is due to a faulty thinking process

  This research has lead to successful treatments for mental issues such as depression & OCD
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  The cognitive approach is scientific


  Scientific methods are used in cognitive psychology

  • A rigorous method which is objective & scientific is used to collect data
  • Accurate conclusions of cognitions acquired

  This shows the importance of being scientific to understand how the mind works
• AO3, the cognitive approach

  computer models have limited explanatory powers


  Computer models are used to explain human processing

  e.g. "encoding" is borrowed directly from computing

  However, how humans & computers process is significantly different.

  For example, computers don't make mistakes or forget things that have been stored, humans however do,

  This questions the appropriateness of using computer models
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  Emotion & motivation ignored (machine reductionism)


  The cognitive approach tells us how cognitive processes work but not why, emotions & motivations are ignored in cognitivism

  - Also, approaches which focus on motivations ignore cognitivism

  The lack of emotional explanations may be due to the over-dependence on computer analogies; computers do not have emotions
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  Studies lack ecological validity


  Studies in cognitivism generally do not reflect reality

  • Cognitive tests are often with random word lists etc, these are meaningless in everyday life.
  • Studies do not research everyday memory activities (e.g. forgetting an appointment)

  Cognitivist findings may not be acceptable to generalise to real life