The Cognitive Approach

Question 1

Def of a schema

Answer 1

Mental framework of beliefs and speciation that influence cognitive processing that are developed forlorn experiences

Question 2

What are the assumptions of the cognitive approach?

Answer 2

• The internal mental frameworks should be studied scientifically unlike behaviourists
• The processes are private and cant be observed so they are studies indirectly where inferences are made on what’s in the mind by the behaviour

Question 3

Explain the ‘ role of the schema’ + the problems with it

Answer 3

Schemas are ‘packages’ of information that are formed from experiences and can be used as a mental shortcut to avoid us from being overwhelmed by information from out environment

We are all bro with a simple motor schema (grabbing and sucking) but as we get older they get more sophisticated

HOWEVER schemas can distort out interpretations of info leading to perpetual errors

Question 4

Explain and outline theoretical and computer models and the difference

(Inc. an example of one)

Answer 4

Theoretical is abstract Computer is concrete.

Used to help psychology’s understand internal mental processes

An important theoretical model - the processing approach. It’s suggests that info flows through the system in a sequence of stages e.g MSM

• This approach is similar tot he ways a computer functions.

Question 5

What does computer models in Cognitive approach include that theoretical doesn’t

Answer 5

It involves actually programming a computer to see in the instructions work and produce a similar output to humans

Question 6

Explain the relevance of the emergence of neuroscience in the cognitive approach + Examples

Answer 6

Tech like PET scans allow psychologists to map brain structures and observe the mental processes and has been useful in understanding mental disorders (OCD)

For example in the 1860s Paul Broca identified that damage to the frontal lobe = speech can become impaired (Brocas area)

Question 7

Definition of Cognitive neuroscience

Answer 7

The scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes

Question 8

P: Scientific methods

S

Answer 8

E: Cognitive psychology’s use lab experiments = high control environments when testing. Emergence of neuroscience has enabled biology psychology to merge = objectives methods

E: TMT the study of the mind has a credible scientific basis that’s free form basis = can be applied to others

Question 9

P: RWA

S

Answer 9

E: Its the dominant approach today and has been applied to other contexts. e.g AI and robots
These technologies can revolutionise how we live our lives. It has even been applied to the understanding of depression.

E: This makes the approach more valuable because it improves the quality of peoples lives

Question 10

P: Machine reductionism

W

Answer 10

E: There could be similarities but the computer analogy ignores the influence of emotion on the mental processes. + research has shown that memory can influenced by emotion

E: TST machine reductionism may weaken the validity of the cognitive approach because there are other factors that can influence out mental process.