Cognitive Approach Introduction

Question 1

Cognition

Answer 1

The process by which knowledge and understanding is developed in the mind
* involved in finding out how the human mind comes to know things about the world and how it uses this knowledge

Question 2

The mind according to cognitive psychologyists

Answer 2

The mind can be conceptualized as a set of mental processes that are carried out by the brain
* can, to some extend, be studied scientifically

Question 3

How is cognition related to one’ personal experiences?

Answer 3

As we interact with the world around us, we create mental representations
* a conceptual understandings of how the world works
* different experiences = different mental representations (opinions, ideas, binary thoughts)

Question 4

What are some cognitive processes? (name 4)

Answer 4

• attention
• decision making
• problem solving
• language
• memory
• perception
• thinking

Question 5

4 principles of the cognitive approach

Answer 5

1. mental representations guide our behaviour
2. models can be used to help us understand complex processes such as memory and decision making
3. humans are information processors
4. the mind, although it cannot be directly observed, can be studied scientifically