Cognitive Approach

Question 1

What is the main thing of the cognitive approach

Answer 1

• internal mental processes
• these should be studied
• example of this would be memory

Question 2

Why are mental processes hard to study and what do psychologists do

Answer 2

• inside your head

- psychologists make inferences about what is happening based on people’s behaviour

Question 3

How does the approach use theoretical models

Answer 3

• helps to understand the mind
• information processing approach
• example being the multi store model of memory

Question 4

How do they use computer analogies

Answer 4

• the brain works like a computer
• information is coded and is stored
• the brain has inputs outputs and stores jut like the computer

Question 5

What is schema

Answer 5

• central to the approach
• packages of information developed through experience
• mental framework for us to interpret information

Question 6

What is cognitive neuroscience

Answer 6

• scientific study of the influences of brain structures on mental processes
• there has been advances in brain scanning techniques which means that we can see what is happening in the brain
• eg episodic and semantic memories linked to opposite sides of the prefrontal cortex
• CAT FMRI

Question 7

Strengths

Answer 7

• scientific
• use controlled methods such as lab studies
• allowed biological and cognitive psychology to be combined
• makes it more creditable and scientific

Question 8

Weaknesses

Answer 8

• machine reductionism
• there are similarities between the mind and computer
• we have emotions and anxiety which affects our thoughts
• not considered in a computer analogy
• oversimplifies though processing