Cognitive approach

Question 1

What is the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

• It focuses on internal mental processes

Question 2

What models do cognitive psychologists use to explain the cognitive approach?

Answer 2

1. Theoretical (abstract) - The information processing approach suggests that information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages.
2. Computer (concrete things) - involves actually programming a computer to see if such instructions produce a similar output to humans (AI).

Question 3

What is the role of the schema?

Answer 3

• The schema is a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing. They are developed from experience.
• They allow us to predict what may happen and are based on previous experience:
  1. Schemas are unique to the individual and the experiences they have had.
  2. Culture has an effect on schemas as it shapes experience.

Question 4

What is cognitive neuroscience (include examples)?

Answer 4

• The scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes.

-fMRI and PET scans are ways to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes. This was used in the study of Tulving et al to show how different types of LTM may be located on opposite sides of the pre-frontal cortex.

Question 5

(AO3) What is a strength of the cognitive approach?

Answer 5

Scientific and objective methods:

• The cognitive approach uses objective, scientific methods. Through using highly controlled and rigorous methods in lab studies, researchers can produce reliable results that help them infer cognitive processes at work.
• Cognitive neuroscience enabled biology and cognitive psychology to come together to enhance the scientific basis of study. This means that the study of the mind has a credible scientific basis.

Question 6

(AO3) What is a weakness of the cognitive approach?
(1)

Answer 6

Machine reductionism:

• Although there are some similarities between the human mind and the operations of a computer, the computer analogy exudes machine reductionism, which ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system, and how this may affect our ability to process information.

Question 7

(AO3) What is a weakness of the cognitive approach?
(2)

Answer 7

Application to everyday life:

• Cognitive psychologists are only able to infer mental processes from the behavior in their research.
• As a consequence, cognitive psychology suffers from being too abstract and theoretical. Experimental processes of mental processes are often carried out using artificial stimuli which don’t represent everday memory experiences, therfore lacks external validity.