Cognitive Approach

Question 1

What is the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

The study of internal processes

Question 2

What does the term cognitive mean

Answer 2

Mental processes

Question 3

What does the cognitive approach focus on

Answer 3

On how mental processes affect behaviour

Question 4

Typical areas of research for cognitive psychologists are…. (3)

Answer 4

Attention
Memory
Perception

Question 5

What is schema

Answer 5

Are mental frameworks, collections of connected basic knowledge about a concept or object built from previous experience with the world

Question 6

The role of schema (how schemas help)

Answer 6

1.Process environmental information
2.Predict the future

Question 7

How does schema help to process environmental information

Answer 7

Allow us to engage with the world without being overwhelmed by sensory information, assigning objects to a schema (e.g. chair) means we do not have to consciously work out exactly what each object is individually

Question 8

How does schema help predict the future

Answer 8

based on previous experience so allow us to make assumptions about what objects and people will do in similar situations

Question 9

Psychologists cannot study cognitive processes directly so what do can they do?

Answer 9

Can investigate it indirectly by making inferences

Question 10

Why do we use schema

Answer 10

Use them quickly to understand and navigate the world and interact with objects and people

Question 11

Benefit of schema

Answer 11

Doesn’t take too much mental energy to decide how to response to a range of situations

Question 12

The role of schema (how schemas cause problems) (2)

Answer 12

1.Leads to inaccurate recall
2.Negative schemas can lead to poor mental health

Question 13

How does schema lead to inaccurate recall

Answer 13

Assumptions due to schema can influence memory a particular problem for EWT, recall has been altered by leading questions

Question 14

How does negative schemas lead to poor mental health?

Answer 14

People with depression have a faulty schema that bias their thinking about themselves, others and the future

Question 15

What models can we use to explain and make inferences about mental processses

Answer 15

Theoretical model and Computer model

Question 16

What is the role of models? (computer and theoretical)

Answer 16

Make inferences which go beyond the immediate evidence to make assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed

Question 17

Analogy of computer model

Answer 17

An analogy between the operation of a computer’s central processing unit running software programs and the human brain conducting internal mental processes

Question 18

What is the computer model

Answer 18

Information is inputted through the senses, coded into memory and then combined with previously stored information

Question 19

What are theoretical models

Answer 19

Are flow chart representations of the steps of a specific mental processes

Question 20

An example of a theoretical model

Answer 20

Is the multi-store model of memory, which shows how sensory input, if not forgotten, progresses from short-term memory to long-term memory before it’s retrieved

Question 21

Weaknesses of computer model (3)

Answer 21

-Overly reductionist (machine reductionist)
-Human memory is flawed and reconstructive
-Human mind is capable of consciousness and emotions

Question 22

Strengths of theoretical models (3)

Answer 22

-Generate testable hypotheses———- allows each assumption to be systematically and scientifically tested
-If observed behaviour matches the model’s predictions, suggests model is valid
-If behaviour contradicts the model, can be adjusted or rejected

Question 23

What is essential for comprehending, assimilating and remembering

Answer 23

Reconstructive memory and schema

Question 24

What is serial reproduction

Answer 24

Memories are not retrieved precisely as they were stored, rather they are reconstructed to fit with the individuals pre-existing values and beliefs, especially when there was a gap in the memory recall

Question 25

What is reconstructive memory

Answer 25

A recall theory that suggests that cognitive processes influence how we remember information stored in the memory systems

Question 26

What does cognitive aim to do

Answer 26

Aims to scientifically identify and examine the neurological structures and chemical processes in the brain that are linked to internal mental processes

Question 27

By integrating principles from both cognitive psychology and neuroscience what does cognitive neuroscience seek to understand

Answer 27

Seeks to understand how the brain’s physical and chemical structure influences thoughts, memories, emotions and behaviours

Question 28

What is the emergence of cognitive neuroscience due to

Answer 28

Due to the development of brain scanning techniques

Question 29

What do PET and fMRI scanners allow researchers to do

Answer 29

To give participants cognitive tasks and observe activity in different areas of the brain

Question 30

Strengths of cognitive neuroscience (3)

Answer 30

1.More scientific and objective 2.Detect issues before symptoms appear, allowing early prevention 3.Links brain to disorders, enabling new treatments and reducing stigma

Question 31

What did Maguire et al., (2000) investigate

Answer 31

Investigated whether brain anatomy was predetermined or whether the brain is susceptible to changes in response to environmental stimulation

Question 32

Describe the details of the experiment that was done by Maguire et al.,

Answer 32

-32 healthy males (average age 44) were investigated and split into two groups -One group was 16 male taxi drivers who has been taxi drivers for 18 months -Second group were 16 males who had never driven a taxis -MRI scans of their brains were taken and analysed

Question 33

What did the MRI scans show

Answer 33

The right posterior hippocampus in the brain of taxi driver’s was larger than the control group

Question 34

What did the MRI scans correlate to

Answer 34

Correlated to length of time the taxi driver had been in the job for example, the longer they had been a taxi driver, the larger the right posterior hippocampus

Question 35

What is the right posterior hippocampus responsible for and how does it link to the taxi drivers

Answer 35

It is responsible for storing visual representations of the environment and this links to how drivers navigate around London

Question 36

Weaknesses of cognitive neuroscience (3)

Answer 36

1.Oversimplify complex mental processes 2.Reliance on inferences 3.Machine reductionist