cognitive approach Flashcards
limitation of cognitive approach: not considering faulty genes
genetics have been found to have an impact on behaviour
e.g the link between the SERT gene and developing OCD
so the approach can be criticised for not considering that faulty genes lead to faulty thoughts
why is it a limitation that the approach doesnt consider unconscious thought processes?
it doesnt consider the existence of unconscious thought processes which may also drive behaviour
psychodynamc theorists suggest that this is an incomplete explanation of the role of cognitions
What are practical applications of the cognitive approach?
*CBT uses cognitive principles to help people with mental health problems
*it aims to change irrational thought processes into rational thought processes
*the effectiveness of the therapy suggests that cognitions may drive behaviour - supporting the cognitive approach
*It is also used in eye witness testimonys.
Loftus research on leading questions shows how a witnesses schemas can be influenced so that they no longer provide a valid account of effects
how are schemas used for eye witness testimonys?
Loftus research on leading questions shows how a witnesses schemas can be influenced so that they no longer provide a valid account of effects
and the eye witness testimony may not be reliable
How does bugelski and alampay support schemas?
*2 groups of ps saw a sequence of pictures - either animals or faces
*they were shown an ambigous picture which could be seen as either a rat or a man
*the group which saw the sequence of animals were more likely to see the ambigous picture as a rat
*the grouo which saw the sequence of faces were more likely to see the pic as a man
*this suggests that the schemas we hold can affect how we percieve things
What is a schema?
a mental framework of beliefs knowledge and expectations that influence cognitive processing
they are developed from our own personal experiences
they help us to process lots of information very quickly and avoid being overloaded by sensory info
What happens to our schemas as we get older?
*Our schemas become more complex
*they enable us to process lots of info quickly
*this means we dont become overwhelmed with sensory info
*however schemas can also disort our interpretations for sensory information leading to errors in perception
What is the computer analogy?
*information processing approach suggests that information flows through the cognitive system in set stages which include input storage and retrieval
*the mind is compared to a computer there are similarities in the way info is processed
*this is a 3 stage process :
- input: this comes from the environment via the senses and is encoded by the individual
- processing: once the info is encoded it can be processed e.g as a schema
- output: a behavioural response occurs once info is processed
What is a computer model?
computer models are software stimulations of internal mental processes that are created in collaboration with computer scientists
What are theoretical models?
diagrammatic representations of the steps involved in internal mental processes e.g multi store model of memory
What is an inference?
the process where psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processees affect behaviour
What is a schema?
a mental framework of beliefs knowledge and expectations that influence cognitive processing
they are developed from our own personal experiences
they help us to process lots of information very quickly and avoid being overloaded by sensory info
What are internal mental processes?
private operations of the mind such as perception and attention between stimulus and response
what is the cognitive approach?
an approach which focusses on how our mental processes affect behaviour
what are the assumptions of the cognitive approach?
*thought acts as meditational processes between stimulus and behavioural response
*the workings of a computer and human mind are alike - they encode and store info and they have outputs
‘*mental processes can be regarded as information processing
*mental processes can be scientifically studied
*the brain affects cognitions and cognitive processes’
*humans can be seen as data processing systems
