4.COGNITIVE APPROACH

• What do cognitive psychologists believe ?

  Cognitive psychologists believe that behaviour is a result of internal mental processes this is how information is used in the mind, including conscious and unconscious thoughts .There are specific areas for research for cognitive psychologists which are attention,perception and memory
• What is an advantage of the cognitive approach?

  An advantage of the cognitive approach is it is considered a scientific approach,this due to the use of highly controlled experiments for example may of the studies supporting the models of memory were conducted in a lab setting,with large sample sizes and used standardised materials.This means many of the claim cognitive psychologists make are backed up by evidence with high internal validity
• What is disadvantage of the cognitive approach?

  The cognitive approach faces criticism for relying on inferences which means that the reliance on assumptions means cognitive psychology is often viewed as less scientific compared to behaviourism or biological psychology, which bases its theories on directly observable behaviours and physical processes.HOWEVER,inferences allow cognitive psychologists to explore areas inaccessible to other approaches such as internal mental processes including thinking,problem solving and also neuroimaging advancements have led to inferences being supported by later activity studies
• What is a schema?

  Schema are mental frameworks ,collections of connected basic knowledge about a concept or object built from previous

  experience with the world.
• What does a schema work as?

  They work as mental shortcuts which allow us to quickly understand and navigate the world -

  this means it doesn't take too much mental energy to decide how to respond to a range of situations
• What are two ways in which schemas help?

  processing environment information and predict the future
• How do schemas help process environmental information?

  Schemas allow us to engage with the world without being overwhelmed by sensory information, assigning objects to a schema means we don't have to consciously work out exactly what each object is individually
• How do schemas help predict the future?

  PREDICT THE FUTURE:As schemas are based on previous experiences, they allow us to make assumptions about what objects and people will do in similar situations.These are often accurate as others act according to similar schemas
• What are two negative effects of schemas?

  However schemas can cause problems such as leads to inaccurate recall + can lead to poor mental health
• How can schemas lead to inaccurate recall?

  Assumptions due to schemas can influence memory ,which is a problem

  for EWT as people may feel they are remembering accurately however their recall has been altered by leading questions
• How can schemas lead to poor mental health?

  Beck argues people with depressions have faulty schemes for example they always think of themselves as inadequate or unworthy
• What does assuming the mind operating as a computer allows psychologists to do?

  By assuming the mind operates similarly to a computer or follows a logical,fixed sequence of stages,cognitive

  psychologists are guided in their interpretation of participants behaviour in studies.Psychologists are then able to make

  educated guesses about internal mental activities based on observable behaviours
• What is the analogy of the computer model?

  computer model is an analogy between the operation of a computers central processing unit

  [CPU] and human brain conducting internal mental processes - suggesting the brain receives inputs and generate outputs

  - the computer and the mind also process information through a sequence of programmed steps
• What is a disadvantage of the computer model?

  Computer model is criticised for being overly simplistic as critics argue that the human brain is more

  complex as the human mind is capable of consciousness and emotions which can lead to irrational behaviours.While

  computers and humans may share certain features the nature of these features is very different
• What is the theoretical model?

  They are flow chart representations of the steps of a specific mental process an example is

  the multi store model of memory which shows how sensory input if not forgotten processes from STM to LTM before

  its retrieved
• What is an advantage of the theoretical model?

  Theoretical models generate testable hypotheses allowing each assumption to be systematically and

  scientifically tested- if the observed behaviour matches the models predictions it suggests the model is valid - if it

  contradicts then it can be adjusted or rejected
• What is cognitive neuroscience?

  Aims to scientifically identify the neurological structures in the brain and it is linked to internal mental processes.This has emerged due to the development of brain scanning techniques ; PET and fMRI scanners which allow researchers to give participants cognitive tasks and observe activity in different areas of the brain
• What is an advantage of cognitive neuroscience?

  Cognitive neuroscience has confirmed the link between brain structures and mental process which is shown by the case of 'tan' who could only say tan due to trouble with his speech production .Neuroimaging showed that there was damage to the Broca's areas
• EVALUATION:SCIENTIFIC + OBJECTIVES


  Cognitive psychology is scientific as it has always employed controlled and rigorous methods of study in order to

  enable researchers to infer cognitive processes at work - this has involved the use of lab experiments to produce reliable,objective data.

  ➔ HOWEVER:Highlycontrolledresearchmethodscanbeartificial-forinstancememorystudiesofteninvolve recalling sequences like long digits or random words, tasks that don't mirror daily memory use.While these studies reveal how memory and other cognitive processes function in controlled settings, their findings lack external validity
• EVALUATION : REAL LIFE APPLICATION

  The cognitive approach has practical real-world application.Understanding has led to cognitive behavioural therapy

  [cbt] where therapists help clients change negative thought patterns.Insights into how schemas affect eyewitness testimony accuracy have informed jury instructions helping prevent wrongful convictions.Additionally cognitive neuroscience research aids in creating treatment for language and memory disorders and supports the development of neural networks for Artifical intelligence
• What is soft determinism in psychology?

  Soft determinism is the belief that behavior is partly determined by biology and the environment, but individuals also have personal control over their actions through thought processes.
• How do cognitive psychologists support soft determinism?

  Cognitive psychologists support soft determinism by recognizing that experiences create schemas in the brain's biological structure, and by suggesting that thought processes provide personal control over actions.
• What principle forms the foundation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?


  The principle of empowerment, by equipping clients with strategies to modify their thought patterns, forms the foundation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) based on soft determinism.
• What distinguishes the role of clients in soft determinism from the role in drug treatments?

  In soft determinism, clients play an active role in their recovery by having personal control over their actions, while drug treatments rely solely on biological determinism and are more passive in nature.
• EVALUATION: MACHINE REDUCTIONISM


  Although there are similarities between the human mind and the operations of a computer (inputs and outputs, storage systems, the use of a central processor), 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