cognitive approach

• assumptions

  argues that internal mental processes can affect our behaviour, these are private operations of the mind such as perception and attention that mediate between stimulus and response
• the role of schema

  are a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing, they are 'packages' of ideas and knowledge that are developed over time, this enables us to process large volumes of data quickly

  schemas are 'pre-conceived' meaning they can lead to perceptual distortions
• theoretical and computer models

  helps them understand internal mental processes, the information processing approach suggests that information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages including input - comes from the environment via the senses and is encoded by the individual, storage (process) - the information once encoded can be processed e.g. schemas and retrieval (output) - is the behavioural response
• cognitive neuroscience 


  neuroscientists can now study the brain as it processes information through the use of PET scans and fMRIs, this has allowed us to locate parts of the brain in information processing

  cognitive neuroscience looks at the biological basis to thought processes specifically how neurons explain processes
• strengths 2

  it uses objective scientific methods meaning the lab studies are highly controlled and replicable so the results are reliable

  practical application as CBT is used as a treatment of mental disorders which has been highly influenced by the cognitive approach
• limitations

  scientific methods lack ecological validity because of the artificiality of the tasks and environment so it might not reflect the way people process information in their everyday life, lacking mundane realism