The cognitive approach

• Cognitive psychology


  A branch of psychology that focuses on internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, language, perception, problem-solving, and decision-making
• Cognitive approach


  Rooted in the idea that to understand human behavior fully, we must first understand the internal processes that drive it
• Schema


  Mental structures that help us organize and interpret information in the world around us
• Schema for a restaurant


  • Expectations about the layout
  • Types of food available
  • Typical interactions with waitstaff
• Theoretical models


  • Frameworks that psychologists use to explain how mental processes work
  • Developed based on empirical research
  • Continually refined as new evidence emerges
• Computer models


  • Simulations of cognitive processes run on computers
  • Allow researchers to test hypotheses
  • Make predictions about how the mind operates under different conditions
• Cognitive neuroscience


  A relatively new field that has emerged from the intersection of cognitive psychology and neuroscience
• Cognitive neuroscience


  • Aims to understand how mental processes are implemented in the brain
  • Uses techniques such as brain imaging and neuropsychological studies
  • Explores the neural mechanisms that underpin cognitive functions like memory, attention, and language
• The study of internal mental processes through the cognitive approach has revolutionized our understanding of human cognition
• Practical applications of the cognitive approach

  • Education
  • Clinical psychology
  • Artificial intelligence
• Cognitive approach


  Offers a valuable framework for studying internal mental processes
• Investigating the role of schema, using theoretical and computer models, and exploring cognitive neuroscience helps researchers uncover the mysteries of the mind
• The cognitive approach enhances our understanding of human cognition and paves the way for advancements in psychology and related disciplines
• When did the idea of human cognition become prominent in psychological thought?


  During the mid twentieth century
• What does the cognitive approach advocate regarding sensory information?


  Sensory information is manipulated internally prior to responses
• What method was predominantly used by philosophical and psychodynamic approaches?


  Introspection
• Why was introspection rejected by the cognitive approach?


  It was rejected in favor of experimental methodology to study internal processes scientifically
• What are the assumptions of the cognitive approach?


  • The mind actively processes information from our senses.
  • Complex mental processes occur between stimulus and response.
  • Humans can be seen as data processing systems.
  • The workings of a computer and the human mind are alike.
• How does the cognitive approach view the human mind?


  As a data processing system
• What is the relationship between the workings of a computer and the human mind according to the cognitive approach?


  Both encode and store information and have outputs
• What internal mental processes does the cognitive approach study using experimental research methods?


  • Attention
  • Memory
  • Decision-making
• How might an investigation compare the abilities of groups to memorize a list of words?


  By presenting the words either verbally or visually
• What does the Information-Processing Model describe?


  The mind as a computer in terms of information processing
• What is an example of the Information-Processing Model in action?


  An artist deciding on a paint color after observing a landscape
• What are the newer models that have emerged in cognitive psychology?

  • Computational models
  • Connectionist models
• How does the Computational model differ from the Information-Processing Model?


  It focuses on how we structure the process of reaching behavioral output
• What does the Connectionist model emphasize?


  The mind as a complex network of neurons
• What is a schema in cognitive psychology?


  An internal 'script' for how to act or what to expect from a situation
• How can schemas affect eyewitness testimony?


  Their role can distort memory based on expectations
• What is cognitive neuroscience?


  • A field that incorporates neuroscience techniques
  • Studies the impact of brain structures on cognitive processes
• What are the strengths of the cognitive approach?


  • Useful models for explaining internal mental processes
  • Strong focus on internal mental processes
  • Scientific experimental methods
• What are the weaknesses of the cognitive approach?


  • Over-simplification of complex mental processes
  • Data from unrealistic laboratory tasks
  • Unsophisticated analogy comparing mind to machine