Cognitive Approach

• Assumption 1: Internal mental processes
• Internal mental processes


  • Humans use cognitive processes to make sense of the world around them
  • We use our senses to collect information from the outside world, then we use internal mental processes to interpret this information
• Examples of internal mental processes

  • Memory
  • Language
  • Attention
  • Decision making
  • Perception
• These processes all work together for us to understand the world. They occur quickly and are often automatic processes.
• Gregory: '90% of info received by the eye is lost before it reaches the brain<|>Brain must therefore hypothesise about what it has seen based on the past experiences stored in our memory'
• We actively construct our perception of reality
• This is demonstrated by optical illusions
• Assumption 2: Computer Analogy
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• Computer


  • Receives an input, processes it, displays and stores, and then outputs
• Human mind


  • Our senses work as an input, info is stored then retrieved when we need it
• Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968 multi-store model of memory

  1. Sensory memory (input from various senses)

  2. Short-term memory (lasting 30 seconds)

  3. Long-term memory (info is retrieved from)
• Sensory memory works as an input, rehearsing and paying attention are forms of processing, and retrieval is an example of output
• Schemas


  • Organised packs of information
  • Built up through experience
  • Stored in long-term memory
  • Tell us what to expect from certain people/situations
  • May not always represent reality
  • Often influenced by 3rd parties (friends,media)
• Schemas are very useful tools but have downsides, they form the basis of stereotypes and can make our memory inaccurate
• Allport&Postman


  • Showed ppts a picture of a white man threatening a black man with a knife
  • Many ppts recalled the black man holding the knife
• Their schema of black people as being dangerous has altered their memory
• • Applying cog approach to the formation of relationships
  • Social exchange theory suggests that when deciding on a potential partner we
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  Works by trying to combat both the cognitive and the behavioural aspects of the client's behaviour
• Cognitive Restructuring

  • Replace faulty thought patterns, often done through cognitive restructuring
  • If a client said no one liked them, the therapist would challenge this
  • One isolated incident in their life has caused them to think in an irrational way (overgeneralization)
• Behavioural Component

  1. Therapist will engage the client in a role play or set homework (reality testing)

  2. Allows the client to put into practice the ideas they have discussed in the cognitive section
• Dysfunctional Thought Diary

  1. Client records events that lead to negative emotions

  2. Client rates their belief in these thoughts 10-100

  3. Client writes a more rational response to these automatic thoughts and rates how much they believe in the response

  4. Client re-rates their beliefs in the automatic thoughts
• How cognitive assumptions can be applied to CBT
• Cog approach

  Cognitive approach to the formation of relationships
• Social exchange theory


  When deciding on a potential partner, individuals make a cost benefit analysis
• Applying social exchange theory

  1. Observe behaviours (input)

  2. Weigh up costs and benefits (process)

  3. Make decision on relationship (output)
• Sacher&Fine investigated what factors predicted relationship satisfaction
• If females had poor quality relationship alternatives, they had positive relationships 6 months later
• Comparison level


  The level at which individuals evaluate the costs and benefits of a relationship