Cognitive Assumptions Flashcards
What does the cognitive approach believe?
The human mind works like a computer, and behaviour is the result of internal mental processes
What is the first assumption of the cognitive approach?
Internal Mental Processes
What does this assumption believe that humans are?
Information processors
What are some examples of internal mental processes?
Perception, Attention, Memory, Language, Imagination and Emotion
What is the internal mental process of naming an animal?
‣ Perception - We notice the animal
‣ Attention - We pay attention to the animal
‣ Memory - We search our memory store to see if there is a ‘match’ with something we have already seen
‣ Language - We use our knowledge of language to name the animal
What is the second assumption of the cognitive approach?
Schemas
What is a schema?
Acts like a ‘mental shortcut’ and like an organisation packs of information that are stored in our memory
How are schemas built up?
Individual experiences and interactions with the world around us
What is ‘The War of Ghosts’ (1938)?
A Native American folk tale
How does ‘The War of Ghosts’ by Bartlett demonstrates schemas?
Bartlett asked 20 college students to read the story, and attempt to recall it soon after.
He found that students recalled a distorted version of the story due to their schemas ‘filling in’ the gaps of knowledge / memory.
What is the third assumption of the cognitive approach?
Computer Analogy
What does this assumption compare the human internal processes to?
A computer and its uses of hardware and software
What is ‘input’ in computers compared to in humans?
Taking in information
What is ‘process’ in computers compared to in humans?
Changing / storing information
What is ‘output’ in computers compared to in humans?
Recalling information
