the cognitive approach

• Internal mental processes


  How information is used in the mind, including all conscious and unconscious thoughts. Typical areas of research for cognitive psychologists are attention, perception and memory.
• Inferences


  As internal mental processes cannot be directly observed, cognitive psychologists have to go beyond the research evidence and use inferences; this is making assumptions about the internal mental processes that produced the participant behaviour observed in an experiment.
• / Rely on inferences


  E - Inferences are essentially educated guesses that could be wrong.

  E - This reliance on assumptions means cognitive psychology is often viewed as less scientific compared to behaviourism or biological psychology.

  L - However, inferences allow cognitive psychologists to explore areas inaccessible to other approaches, such as internal mental processes, including thinking, problem-solving, memory, attention and perception.
• Schema


  Mental frameworks, collections of connected basic knowledge about a concept or object built from previous experience with the world.

  They work as mental shortcuts, we use them to quickly understand and navigate the world and interact with people and objects, this means it doesn't take too much mental energy to decide how to respond to a range of situations.
• The role of schema (Positive)


  Processing environmental information - schemas allow us to engage with the world without being overwhelmed by sensory information, assigning objects to a schema means we do not have to consciously work out exactly what each object is individually.

  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.
• The role of schema (negative)


  Leads to inaccurate recall - assumptions due to schemas can influence memory, a particular problem for EWT, people may feel they are remembering accurately however their recall has been altered by leading questions.

  Negative schemas can lead to poor mental health - Beck argues people with depression have faulty schemas that bias their thinking about themselves, others and the future. For example, they always think of themselves as inadequate or unworthy.
• Theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes


  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 (inferences) about internal mental activities based on observable behaviours.
• Computer model


  An analogy between the operation of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) running software programs and the human brain conducting internal mental processes. This comparison suggests both systems receive inputs and generate outputs. The computer and the mind also process information through a sequence of programmed steps.
• Theoretical models


  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, progresses for short-term memory to long-term memory before it's retrieved.
• / Computer model is overly simplistic (machine reductionist)


  E - Critics argue that the human brain is significantly more complex than any computer, and the human mind is capable of consciousness and emotions, which can lead to irrational behaviours.

  E - While computers and humans may share certain features, the nature of these features is very different.

  L - Therefore, the computer model is too simplistic and does not fully explain human behaviour.
• Cognitive neuroscience


  Aims to scientifically identify and examine the neurological structures and chemical processes in the brain that are linked to internal mental processes. By integrating principles from both cognitive psychology and neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience seeks to understand how the brain's physical and chemical structure influences thoughts, memories, emotions, and behaviour.
• The emergence of cognitive neuroscience

  The emergence of neuroscience is due to the development of brain scanning techniques; PET and fMRI scanners allow researchers to give participants cognitive tasks and observe activity in the different area of the brain.
• + Cognitive neuroscience - Confirmed the link between brain structures and mental processes - individuals with unique brain injuries


  E - 'Tan', who could only say 'Tan' due to speech production issues. After his death, an autopsy showed damage in the Broca's area.

  E - This shows a link between the Broca's area and its role in producing speech.

  L - Therefore, this supports that there are links between brain structures and mental processes as seen by brain scans.
• + Cognitive neuroscience - Has helped to find different types of LTM


  E - Tulving's PET research has revealed specific brain activity patterns for different long term memory types - episodic, semantic, and procedural.

  E - Supports the idea of multiple, distinct long-term memory systems, each with a unique brain processing system.

  L - Therefore, Tulving's findings emphasise the complexity of memory and demonstrates how the brain produces various cognitive functions.
• + Practical applications


  E - The cognitive approach has been used to develop therapies for depression, such as CBT. CBT works by identifying, tackling and changing unhelpful thinking so that your mindset, behaviours and overall well-being can improve.

  E - This allows people suffering from these mental illnesses to be able to deal with situations that occur everyday in a calmer, more appropriate manner.

  L - However, for some individuals both therapy and drugs are required to help relieve their symptoms, so CBT alone may not be enough.
• + Scientific and objective methods


  E - The cognitive approach uses methods of studying the brain, such as fMRIs and PET scans, as well as controlled lab experiments.

  E - This adds internal validity to the cognitive approach.

  L - However, lab experiments cannot be generalised due to the strict conditions, causing it to lack ecological validity.
• / Reductionist


  E - The approach assumes that all our actions and behaviours are as a result of internal-mental processes and thoughts.

  E - The cognitive approach can be criticised as being too simplistic, failing to recognise that surely there are an array of factors that impact human behaviour.

  L - Therefore, such complex behaviours as those displayed by humans cannot be reduced down to one explanation. (reductionalist)
• Assumptions of the cognitive approach.

  Information received from our senses is processed by the brain and that this processing directs how we behave. Internal mental processes cannot be observed directly, but we can infer what a person is thinking based on how they act.