4. cognitive approach

• the cognitive approach studies internal mental processes (memory, perception and thinking)
• cognitive psychologists use theoretical and computer models to help understand internal mental processes
• a theoretical model called the information processing approach is based on the way computers function
• computer models involve programming a computer to see if such instructions produce a similar output to humans
• a schema is a persons internal beliefs and expectations
• as we grow up our schemas get more detailed and sophisticated as we get older
• schemas enable us to process lots of information quickly
• sometimes schemas can distort our interpretations of sensory information
• cognitive neuroscience is a scientific study of the influence of brains structures on mental processes
• broca identified how damage to the frontal lobe (brocas area) could permanently impair speech production
• there have been advances in brain imaging technologies for example fMRI and PET

  • scientists are able to scientifically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes
• tulving et al showed different types of long term memory may be located in opposite sides of pre frontal cortex
• evaluation - scientific and objective methods +

  • lab experiments are used to produce reliable data
• evaluation - machine reductionism -

  • some similarities between human mind and computer
  • machine reductionism ignores influence of human emotion and motivation
  • human memory may be affected by emotional factors - influence of anxiety on eyewitnesses
• evaluation - applications to everyday life -

  • experimental studies often use artificial stimuli, such as lists of words which may not represent everyday memory experience
• evaluation - real life application -

  • important contribution in field of artificial intelligence and development of robots
• evaluation - less determinist than other approaches -

  • founded on soft determinism - recognises that out cognitive system can only operate with what we known, but we are still free to think
• the cognitive approach is focused on how our mental processes affect behaviour
• cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
• inference is the process whereby cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour
• in the cognitive approach indirect inferences are made about a person's mind based off behaviours