The Cognitive Approach The study of internal mental processes, the role of schema, the use of theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes. The emergence of cognitive neuroscience.

Behaviourism (Last Session) Behaviourists were not interested in what happens in between stimulus and response. They do not think you need to know.

S IP R Cognitive Approach Cognitive psychologists believe that our behaviour is determined by the way we process information taken in from our environment.

Assumptions of the Cognitive Approach Developed as a reaction against the behaviourist stimulus-response approach. Cognitive psychologists believe it is the events within a person that must be studied if behaviour is to be fully understood. Unlike behaviourists, cognitive psychologists believe that it is possible to study internal mental processes in an objective way and that insight into mental processes may be inferred from behaviour. They are concerned with how thinking shapes our behaviour.

The Cognitive Approach Cognition means ‘knowing’ and cognitive processes refer to the way in which knowledge is gained, used and retained Cognitive psychologists explain all behaviour in terms of thoughts, beliefs and attitudes, and study how these direct our behaviour.

Internal Mental Processes Humans are seen as information processers. The main concern of cognitive psychology is how information received from our senses is processed by the brain and how this processing directs how we behave. The cognitive approach also looks at how various cognitive functions work together to help us make sense of the world.

Mental Processes Studied by Cognitive Psychologists Perception Attention Memory Language Thinking Problem solving This approach therefore investigates those areas of human behaviour that were neglected by behaviourists

Schemata (Remember these?) Part of the mental processes identified by the cognitive approach are Schemata (singular: schema). These are mental structures that represent an aspect of the world, such as an object or event. They help us to make sense of the world, by providing short cuts to identifying things/events that we come across (our building blocks of knowledge).

Schemata For example: It has a large metal door Buttons and dials Gets hot inside Has hot metal rings on top It is probably a cooker. You do not need to have seen this particular cooker before to identify it as a cooker. Your schema for “cooker” allows you to be able to identify all cookers so long as they do not veer too far from your mental schema.

Theoretical and Computer Models Cognitive psychologists often compare the human mind to a computer. It compares how we take information (input) store it or change it (process) and then recall it when necessary (output). PROCESS INPUT OUTPUT

Computer Analogy In this analogy, the brain would be the hardware and cognitive processes would be the software.

Cognitive Models Cognitive psychologists use the results of their research to develop models of how people process information They infer (deduce) mental processes from comparisons between the information (input) a person receives and the behaviour (output) they produce Such computational models of the mind have proved useful in the development of ‘thinking machines’ or artificial intelligence

Example of the Computer Analogy The Multi-Store Memory Model (Atkinson and Shiffrin 1968) Iconic Memory ~ 0.5-1 sec Echoic Memory 1.5-5 sec Short-term 18-20 secs with no rehearsal Magic No 7+/- 2 Long-term More or less permanent store

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The Memory Process Input from the environment via a sensory register, where sensory information enters memory, In to a short-term store, also called working memory or short-term memory, which receives and holds input from both the sensory register and the long-term store, and The long-term store, where information which has been rehearsed in the short-term store is held indefinitely. Can also be "copied" and transferred back to the short- term store where it can be attended to and manipulated further.

Psychology is a Science! Cognitive psychologists have a very scientific approach towards studying behaviour. Although they are concerned with the inner workings of the mind (which cannot be directly observed), scientific and controlled experiments allow psychologists to infer what is happening.

Applications of the Approach Topic area Application Cognitive development Piaget proposed stages of cognitive development which reflect the increasing sophistication of children’s thinking. The information-processing approach sees children's minds as computers that gradually develop in processing ability. Mood disorders Beck’s model of depression sees faulty thinking as the cause of depression. Ellis believes emotional and behavioural disorders develop because of irrational beliefs and thoughts. Memory Models of memory have helped us to understand these cognitive processes further. Knowledge of how memory works has been applied to interviewing witnesses e.g. the cognitive interview Education Information–processing theory has been applied to improve educational techniques. Therapy For example, Ellis’ rational emotive therapy (RET) to restructure faulty thinking and perceptions in depression.

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Emergence of Cognitive Neuroscience Study of Biological Structures that underpin Cognitive Processes. Cognitive neuroscientists study many different aspects of human cognition, including the neural processes underlying memory, attention, perception and awareness. They are also interested in social cognition, the brain regions involved when we interact with others What is also of interest is how impairments in these regions may characterise different psychological conditions

How are these biological structures investigated? Brain imaging techniques have allowed scientists to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes. This has been possible due to the development of brain imaging techniques such as fMRI and PET scans. As a result of the use of sophisticated scanning techniques (to observe functioning in specific areas) alongside the experimental methods (to infer the processes taking place), cognitive neuroscience is rapidly becoming the dominant paradigm (example) in modern psychology.

How are these Biological Structures Investigated? Example of neuroscience use for studying cognitive processes: It has been possible to work out which parts of the brain are involved in the processing of words

Strengths of Cognitive Approach It is scientific! Based on carefully controlled research! Computer models helps us to understand unobservable mental processes It is less deterministic than other approaches as it allows for individuals to think before responding to the stimulus It has many useful applications It has been successfully integrated into other approaches in order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of some behaviours

Limitations of the Cognitive Approach ‘Man as machine’ is seen as too simplistic and reductionist, ignoring emotional, motivational and social factors in human behaviour Emphasis on laboratory experiments means findings may not reflect everyday life – lacking in ecological validity Explains how cognitive processes happen but tends to ignore why