cognitive approach

• cognitive approach - 


  'cognitive' has come to mean 'mental processes' so this approach is focused on how our mental processes (thoughts, perceptions, attention) affect behaviour
• assumptions -

  • argues internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically
  • processes are 'private' cannot be observed so psychologists study them indirectly by making inferences about what's going on inside peoples minds on the basis of their behaviour
• schema - 


  mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence of cognitive processing - developed from experience
• role of schema -

  • act as mental framework for the interpretation of incoming info received by the cognitive system
  • babies are born with simple motor schema for innate behaviours such as sucking and grasping
  • as we age our schema become more detailed and sophisticated - develop schema for everything eg zombies
  • enable us to process lots of info quickly - useful as a mental shortcut that prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli - however they may distort interpretations of sensory info leading to perceptual errors
• theoretical and computer models -

  • overlaps between models but theoretical models are abstract whereas computer models are concrete things
  • information processing approach - suggests info flows through cognitive system in sequences of stages - input storage and retrieval (MSM) - based on the way computers function but a computer model would actually involve programming a computer to see if such instructions produce a similar output to humans - if so we can suggest similar processes are going on in human mind
  • such computational models of the mind have proved useful in the development of AI
• emergence of cognitive neuroscience -

  • scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes - mapping brain areas to specific cognitive functions
  • 1860s Broca's area
  • in last 25yrs - advances in brain imaging techniques (fMRI, PET) enable systematically observe and describe neurological basis of mental processes (types of long term memory on opposite sides of prefrontal cortex as well as central executive)
  • parahippocampal gyrus and OCD
  • computer generated models designed to read the brain - 'brain fingerprinting' application in eyewitnesses testimony lying
• evaluation of cognitive approach: scientific methods (strength) -

  • P: uses objective scientific methods
  • E: employ highly controlled and rigorous methods of study - able to infer cognitive processes at work
  • E: use of lab studies to produce reliable objective data - emergence of cognitive neuroscience has enabled 2 fields of biology and cognitive psych to merge to enhance scientific basis of study
  • L: means study of the mind has credible scientific basis
• evaluation of cognitive approach: scientific methods counterpoint (limitation) -

  • P: relies on inference of mental processes rather than direct observation of behaviour - can occasionally suffer from being too abstract and theoretical in nature
  • E: research studies of mental processes are often carried out using artificial stimuli that may not represent everyday experience
  • L: research on cognitive processes may lack external validity
• evaluation of cognitive approach: real world application (strength) -

  • P: practical application
  • E: dominant approach in psych today - applied to a wide range of practical and theoretical contexts
  • E: important contribution in field of AI and robots - also applied to treatment of depression and improved reliability of EWT
  • L: supports value of cognitive approach
• evaluation of cognitive approach: machine reductionism (limitation) -

  • P: based on machine reductionism
  • E: similarities between human mind and operations of computers (inputs, outputs, storage systems and central processor
  • E: computer analogy criticised - machine reductionism ignores influence of human emotion and motivation on cognitive system and how this may affect our ability to process info - eg memory affected by emotional factors such as influence of anxiety on EWT
  • L: suggests machine reductionism may weaken validity of cognitive approach