cognitive approach

• assumptions

  • opposed the behaviourist stimulus-response approach, stating that the thought processes in between should be acknowledged
  • cognitive psychologist believe that internal mental processes can be measured scientifically
  • they explain behaviour in terms of internal mental processes such as thoughts, beliefs and attitudes and study how these affect behaviour
  • investigates unobservable areas such memory, perception and thinking, having to make inferences about thought processes and the basis of behaviour
• schemas

  • 'packages of information' that act as a cognitive framework that help to organise and interpret information in the brain
  • a cognitive representation of our ideas about a person or situation
  • they are formed through experience and allow us to predict what may happen in the world
  • allow us to take shortcuts when processing large amounts of information
• schemas- Ps and Ns

  • allows us to process info quickly
  • reduces reliability of memories due to recalling what we expected to have happened
  • leads to stereotypes and prejudice
• theoretical and computer models

  theoretical models- simplified representations of mental processes which show stages of the particular process. The information processing approach suggests suggest that information flows through a sequence of stages that include: INPUT, STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL.

  computer models- compare the mind to a computer, such as the use of a central processor (the brain) and changing information into usable code and the use of 'stores' to hold info. We can also use a computer to see if instructions produce a similar output to humans.
• cognitive neuroscience

  • studies the influence of brain structures on mental processes
  • has steadily developed over the past 20 years with technological advances such as: fMRI scans and PET which allow psychologists to identify areas of the brain associated with different mental processes and disorders.
• cognitive neuroscience- Ps and Ns

  • research with demonstrates the neurological basis of mental processes
  • can be used to understand psychological disorders
  • ethical issues, such as use in lie detection and 'thought reading'
• cognitive approach- AO3

  • approach uses scientific method (e.g lab experiments, controlled conditions)
  • has real world application- used in social psychology (stereotypes), mental illness and artificial intelligence
  • it has been accused of Machine Reductionism- reduces behaviour down to being like a computer and ignores emotion and motivation
  • some real-life application may be limited- cognitive psychologists can only make inferences about behaviour, research uses unrealistic stimuli