Cognitive Approach

    Cards (13)

    • Assumptions
      • The human mind is like a computer
      • Behaviour is the result of internal mental processes
    • Theoretical models:
      Frameworks developed by cognitive psychologists which help explain cognitive processes. They have a series of steps/components and are used to explain mental processes, such as memory and perception.
      For example: THE INFORMATION PROCESSING MODEL. This model explains how the human mind transforms sensory information. The model assumes that information from the environment (input) is subjected to mental processes (mediation processes) which underlies behaviour (output)
    • Inference:
      Mental processes such as memory and decision making, are private and cannot be observed directly. However cognitive psychologists study them using INFERENCE.
      INFERENCE: is taking cues from observable behaviour to suggest what is occurring in the internal mental processes of the unobservable mind. They go beyond the observable behaviour of participants to draw conclusions about the internal mental processes based on evidence and reasoning.
    • Schemas

      A cognitive framework which helps organise and interpret information.
      It acts as ‘packages’ of knowledge acquired through experiences. They allow us to take quick mental short-cuts interpreting the huge amounts of information. It fills in the gaps of information and informs our expectations to behave ‘appropriately’ in a situation.
    • Schemas linked to human behaviour:
      if we observe that when a person is presented with a list of positive and negative words, they remember seeing more negative than positive words. We infer that the person has a bias towards attending to negative material because they are having recurring negative thoughts (potentially signalling depression).
      Rejection from parents and isolation from friends in childhood results in negative self schemas. This filters into adulthood - individuals see themselves as unwanted/unloved which then develops into depression in adulthood.
    • Computer models: 
      another way of studying internal mental processes. Psychologists develop computer programmes to emulate human mental processing. They experiment with these to get a better understanding of the functioning of the mind.
      1. Computer models are programmed algorithms (step-by-step instructions) which act like human mental processes.
      2. Once the algorithm is in place, input is created to simulate an environmental stimulus.
      3. It is then processed by algorithms
      4. Which leads to an output (behaviour)
    • Cognitive psychologists are trying to create computer models that can learn and express “intelligent behaviour” - (AI)
      They use the output from such models to help us better understand how the human mind learns and works. We can apply what we learn from computer models to human mental processes because the mind works like a computer.
    • Cognitive Neuroscience

      Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of the biological basis for mental processing, specifically how neurons behave during those processes.
      This is done by measuring the activity of parts of the brain during cognitive processing
      Brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans have allowed scientists to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processing. Participants are given cognitive tests while scanning takes place.
    • Distortions caused by the use of schemas
      • They lead to stereotyping others based on our past experiences
      • Could lead to forgetting or ignoring information that does not fit the schemas
      • Making errors when performing new tasks as we still apply our old understanding
    • + Supported by studies which use HIGH CONTROL and SCIENTIFIC METHODS to investigate behaviour. 

      Cognitive psychologists use lab experiments w/ high levels of control + use of standardised procedures- allows others to replicate study to increase RELIABILITY of results - high level of control allows researcher to ELIMINATE EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES + establish a stronger cause and effect, increases validity of findings. Operationalisation -> objective valid data + not affected by researcher bias. 
      Scientific nature of supporting studies of CA, we can assume that the CA is also valid.
    • + Supporting evidence that behaviours like mental abnormality can result from faulty cognitions.
      E.g, Beck demonstrated that abnormal behaviour such as depression is a product of faulty schemas that can lead to cognitive biases about the self, the world and the future. Ellis also demonstrated how having consistent negative and irrational beliefs can make people vulnerable to depression-like behaviour. This shows that our thoughts and mental processes have a strong influence on behaviour, and therefore supports a key assumption of the cognitive approach -increases validity of the approach.
    • + real life applications
      The CA considered most dominant approach in psychology today +has been applied to a wide range of practical contexts. E.g, research into faulty cognitions + cognitive explanation for depression led to treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). cognitive psychologists help identify negative and faulty schemas and work to replace them with positive ones. These treatments have gone on to help many people that have been affected by depression. David et al: demonstrates CBT is effective- can be assumed that underlying assumptions from CA are also valid. 
    • -- may be considered an incomplete explanation of behaviour. 

      While it does acknowledge the role of experiences it oversimplifies complex behaviour such as thoughts and emotions down to simple concepts such as schemas. In doing so, the cognitive approach ignores the influence of biological make-up and impact of genes and neurotransmitters especially when there is credible research from McGuffin which shows that genes play a role in behaviour. This limits the explanatory scope of Cognitive Approach as it is incomplete, this reduces its validity.
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