Cognitive Approach Flashcards
1
Q
What are the two main assumptions of the Cognitive Approach?
A
- Psychologists must study mental processes scientifically, this makes it a response to the behaviourist approach
- The mind works like a computer, information processing model
2
Q
What are the three stages of the information processing model?
A
Input, processing, output
3
Q
What is schema theory
A
The fact that we have a schema, which is a mental framework which we form from our experiences and guides our expectations of future experiences
4
Q
What is Assimilation in response to Schema theory?
A
-When an experienced matches our schema
- this can cause us to alter details when recalling memories to match our schema
5
Q
What is accommodation in response to schema theory?
A
- changing our schema to make sense of new experiences
6
Q
Who conducted a supporting study of Schemas?
A
Bartlett, 1932
7
Q
Outline Bartletts study into schemas
A
- Asked ppts to read a Navaho folk tale
- ppts then had to recall the story
- he measured how many details ppts got wrong and found that they changed details to match their schemas
8
Q
What are two strengths of the cognitive approach?
A
- Highly scientific, inferences are made based off of observable behaviour and empirical evidence
- Can be applied to the treatment of mental disorders for example Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
9
Q
What are two weaknesses of the cognitive approach?
A
- Experiments may lack ecological validity
- Ignores the possibility that there are individual differences in people’s mental processes
