cognitive

Question 1

What are the key assumptions/ points?

Answer 1

• behaviour is influenced by both conscious and unconscious thoughts
• Internal Mental Processes mediate between stimulus and response
• Humans are information processors that can be compared to computers

Question 2

What is a schema?

Answer 2

-a cognitive framework of beliefs and expectations
-developed from experience that helps us organize and interpret information in the brain
-used as a reference to help us behave appropriately

Question 3

What are the advantages of a schema?

Answer 3

-Help us process lots of information quickly
-Stops us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of a schema?

Answer 4

-May develop stereotypes that are difficult to disconfirm
-can distort our interpretations of sensory information leading to perceptual errors

Question 5

What are theoretical/ computer models?

Answer 5

Simplified, usually pictorial representation of a particular mental process
Based on available evidence

Question 6

Similarities between humans and computers?

Answer 6

-Both recall and process information
-take data from the outside word and transform it

Question 7

Differences between humans and computers?

Answer 7

Computers have no emotion
Computers may misinterpret instructions/ have processing errors
Humans have selective memory/ attention

Question 8

What is cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 8

-scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
-interested in which brain regions are involved when we interact, human cognition, attention, how impairments in brain regions may characterise different psych conditions etc

Question 9

Strengths?

Answer 9

-Has many applications- has been able to explain dysfunctional behaviour

-Scientific- use of models

Question 10

Weaknesses?

Answer 10

Computer models- important differences between them and humans

Ignores important factors- tells us how processes take place not why

Question 11

Applications of the approach?

Answer 11

-models of memory have helped us understand how memory works, which has been applied to police interviewing witnesses
- NHS uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aiming to restructure faulty thinking and perceptions in depression, following Ellis’ belief that mental disorders develop because of irrational thoughts
-cognitive neuroscience