Cognitive approach

• What does this approach suggest ?

  • focus on how people perceive, store, manipulate + interpret info
  • information processing + internal processes = behaviour
• What were the assumptions ?

  1. Humans are informational processors
  2. all essential cognitive processes e.g memory work together to understand + respond to the environment
  3. thought processes can + should be processed scientifically
  4. abnormality is due to faulty + internal mental processes
• What is the black box analogy ?


  stimulus -> internal processes -> response

  internal processes = behaviour is determined by the way we process information taken in from the environment
• Computer metaphor


  Cognitive approach uses visual models to display processes
• Computer metaphor


  1. Senses environment

  2. Input

  3. Instruct the PC to do something

  4. PC works behind the scenes to process instructions

  5. PC responds with desired task
• Our behaviour


  Reacts and responds to our processes
• what are schemas ?


  mental shortcut that allows info to be processed quickly

  • shape the way we behave in new situations + expand knowledge
• Why are schemas beneficial ?

  • allow humans to access large info instantly reducing energy + time -> efficient
  • prior knowledge helps predict behaviour + prevent us getting overhwelmed by environmental schemas
• Why are schemas unhelpful ?

  • process info too quickly -> mjss some info (EWT)
  • can be influenced by social interactions
  • faulty schemas don’t represent reality
  • must regularly modify + test schemas
• What is cognitive neuroscience ?


  Scientific study of neural structure + neural chemistry of brain + impact on internal mental processes
• How is cognitive neuroscience tested ?

  • complex through EEG + FMRI
• What are the practical applications of Brian scans ?

  • scanning techniques allow for diagnosis of depression, OCD,SZ ect
  • benefits understanding of human behaviour
• what are the benefits of understanding human behaviour ?

  • different types of behaviours located in different areas of the brain
  • investigate specific areas + problems like aphasia treated
• What are the evaluation ?

  1. Lab based studies
  2. ignores emotion + motivation when comparing humans to computers
  3. real life application
• ignores emotion + motivation when comparing humans to computers ?

  • individual differences
  • machine reductionism
• Real life application ?

  • supports CBT, brain structure in memory irrational thoughts in depression, thalamus in SZ