the cognitive approach

• what is the cognitive approach?

  The cognitive approach is a psychological perspective that focuses on how people's mental processes (thoughts, perceptions, attention) affect their behaviour.
• what are the assumptions behind the cognitive approach?

  1. Mediational processes occur between stimulus and response
  2. Psychology should be seen as a science and uses experimental methods to investigate cognition
  3. Humans are information processors
  4. The role of the schema
• cognitive approach: how does mediational process occur between stimulus and response?

  Mediational processes are cognitive factors that intervene in the learning process to determine whether a new behaviour is acquired or not. The four mediational processes proposed by Bandura are attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. Contrastingly, behaviourists reject the idea of studying the mind because internal mental processes cannot be observed or objectively measured. Thought processor and cognitive factors both unconscious and conscious can influence behaviour.
• cognitive approach: humans are information processors.

  Information processing in humans resembles that in computers, and it based on transforming, storing, and retrieving information from the memory. Information processing models of cognitive processes such as memory assume that mental processes follow a clear sequence. For example, The Multistore Model of Memory is a linear model of memory that explains the encoding is via the senses, e.g. auditory input; storage is dependent upon rehearsal and retrieval is dependent upon accessibility.
• cognitive approach: the role of the schema

  Cognitive processing can often be affected by a person's pattern of thought and cognitive framework, often referred to as a schema. Schema's are mental representations of ideas and information developed through experience. They enable us to process lots of information quickly and it is useful in preventing us from becoming overwhelmed by environmental stimuli. However, schemas may also distort our interpretations of sensory information, leading to perceptual errors and bias.
• cognitive approach: the emergence of cognitive neuroscience

  Cognition and biological processes can be integrated leading to cognitive neuroscience as a way forward to understanding human behaviour. For example, cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of the influence of the brain structures on mental processes, done through the use of brain scanning techniques such as MRI scans. The focus of cognitive neuroscience has expanded recently to include the influence of AI and computer-generated models that are designed to read the brain, combining biopsychology and models developed in cognitive psychology.
• evaluation (AO3) what are the 3 evaluation points regarding the cognitive approach?

  1. Machine reductionism
  2. Ecological validity
  3. Development of CBT
• evaluation (AO3) Cognitive approach: Machine reductionism

  Although there are similarities between the human mind and the operations of a computer, the computer analogy has been criticised by many. Such machine reductionism ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system, and how this may affect our ability to process information. For instance, research has found that human memory may be affected by emotional factors, such as the influence of anxiety on eyewitnesses. This limitation therefore questions the comprehensiveness of the cognitive approach.
• evaluation (AO3) the cognitive approach: Ecological validity

  Whilst the results of a lab-based experiment yield objective, empirical data which can be repeated to ensure consistency, the results may lack ecological validity and generalisation to everyday life, as the influences on individuals aside of the lab may be very different to when in the controlled environment. This means that we must be cautious when applying the results of experiments to everyday cognitive tasks.
• evaluation (AO3) the cognitive approach: development of CBT

  The cognitive approach has led to many successful applications to the real world, including therapies such as Cognitive behavioural therapy. CBT’s focus on replacing irrational faulty thinking with rational thinking, has enabled many people to overcome disorders such as depression. However, the therapies have been criticised for limiting their focus to faulty cognitions and not taking account of the biological influences on psychological disorders, questioning its generalisability to all individuals.
• AO1 cognitive approach summary for 16 marker

  The cognitive approach focuses on how internal mental processes impact behaviour. It states that humans are information processors, with cognitive processes based on transforming, storing, and retrieving information from memory. All models of cognitive processes, for example the multi-store model of memory, assume mental processes follow a clear sequence. The cognitive approach takes into account the role of the schema. Our schema allow us to process lots of information quickly, preventing us from being overwhelmed by external stimuli, but they can distort our interpretations of sensory information, leading to perceptual errors such as prejudice. Cognitive psychologists also believe that mediational processes occur between stimulus and response. They include attention, retention, repetition, and motivation.