Strength 1 (describe)
- It can identify and describe many IMP which occur in response to stimuli
- This can treat psychological disorders
- Like depression, which can use CBT to focus on challenging negative self-schemas and other faulty cognitions
- Thus being used for treatment ‘schemas’
Weakness 1(artificial)
- Much research is conducted artificially
- Like Baddeley’s research into STM and LTM
- Is artificial stimuli processing representative of everyday info
- Research may lack external validity
Strength 2 (determinism)
- Less deterministic than others
- like Biological or BA
- It allows people to think about how they want to respond
- Allowing for free will
Weakness 2 (reductionist)
- ‘Computer analogy’ is too simplistic
- Machine-reductionism
- Means emotional influence is overlooked
- This is a crucial difference between humans and machines
Assumptions
Internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically.
Internal mental processes are ‘private’ and cannot be studied directly so inferences need to be made
How are IMP studied
Lab based studies to make inferences about IMP.
IMP examples
Language, decision making, memory, perception
Schemas
Mental representation of a concept, including knowledge, belief and expectations.
They help us organise the world, and direct our behaviour. We don’t all think in the same way
We can take mental shortcuts, so we don’t get overwhelmed by information, but this can lead to faulty conclusions/overlooking of sensory info.
Model example
Input–> processing–>output
Sensory store, attention, rehearsal, transfer and retrieval from long term memory
Models
Psychologist identify likely stages of information processing between stimulus and response.
Displayed in a sequence like format.
Each stage can be tested.
Like a computer (input, CPU to process info, and stores)
