Cognitive Approach

Question 1

Key assumptions

Answer 1

+It believes that internal processes can and should be studied scientifically.
+Conducts studies on areas such as memory, perception and thinking and them makes inferences about what is going on in the mind of the participants.(areas neglected by behaviourism)
+Use lab data in order to gain empirical data and strictly control the conditions of the participants.

Question 2

Schemas

Answer 2

+Mental structures which contain all the information we have about one aspect of the world.
+As we get older, our schemas become more advanced.
+They help us to process the vast amount of information we receive quickly.
+Is schemas are inaccurate, they could lead to processing biases such as optical illusions.

Question 3

Types of schema

Answer 3

+Self-schema- Organised info and beliefs, about the self that controls their perspective about the world.
+Role-schema- Norms and expected behaviour from people with a specific role
+Event-schema- Beliefs that scenarios will go in a certain way.

Question 4

The emergence of cognitive neuroscience

Answer 4

+The scientific study of the influence of brain structure on mental processes.
+fMRI & PET
+Found neurological basis for some mental disorders
—I.E The parahippocampal gyrus has been found to be associated with OCD
+Computer generated images of the brain can be used to ‘read’ the brain and create mind maps known as ‘brain fingerprints’ which can be use to determine whether someone is lying.

Question 5

Evaluation of the cognitive approach - Strengths

Answer 5

Scientific and objective methods
+The use of labs produce reliable, oblective data. Highly controlled methods
+Brings together biological and cognitive approach due to a credible basis

Real life application
-Cognitive approach has bee used in many real life contexts
eg; AI, Police Qs, depression treatment (Cognitive behavioural therapy)

Less determinist than other approaches
+It recognises that the individual thinks before responding to a stimuli and ∴ has free will

Question 6

Evaluation of the cognitive approach- Weaknesses

Answer 6

Machine reductionism
+The computer analogy has been criticised for ignoring human emotion and motivation and how we process info.

Lack of external validity
-The use of artificial stimuli may not represent real life experiences.