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The cognitive approach (Issues and debate (Are the research methods used…

- - - - For not taking into account internal mental processes in behaviour
  - - - Mental processes - thoughts, perceptions, attention.
    - - 'Private' operations of the mind such as perception and attention that mediate between stimulus and response.
    - - A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing. They develop from experience.
    - - The process by which cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about cognitive processes based upon observed b/h.
    - - The scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
    - - The cognitive computer metaphor used to explain mental processing in terms of input, process, output.
    - - Reducing the human mind and thought patterns down to the functioning of a computer-like machine. This ignores the emotional and motivational components of thinking.
    - - How true the finding of an investigation is to how s/one would b/h irl - if an investigation is v. artificial it lacks external validity.
    - - Instead of saying our actions are directly caused by our inevitable reaction to environmental stimuli, cognitive psychology allows us to think and select a response.
- - - - By inferring the actions of the mind from behaviour seen
        
        Inference = going beyond the immediate evidence to make assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed
    - - Inputs from senses
      - Outputs in the form of behaviour
- - - - Help us to predict what is going to happen in a new situation
      - This means they form the unique way in which we all interpret the world around us
        
        However, can lead to distortion from using schemas which may not be relevant
        
        Inaccuracies in eyewitness testimonies
        
        Explains some errors we make when perceiving optical illusions
- - - - As a representation on how memory works
    - - By thinking in terms of different structures and what each of them does
        
        By breaking them down the processes into component parts
        
        Researchers can more easily test the individual elements of the theory
        
        The behaviour displayed is then inferred to improve understanding of each component
- - - - Input
        
        Processing
        
        Output
        
        Perceptions, memories, behaviours
        
        Sequence of mental operations
      - Sensory information
  - - - For example, we touch something hot, process that it's hot and move out hand away
  - - - Each task was unaffected by performing together, inferred
        
        Inferred phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad were independent systems
- - - - For example, different areas of the brain have been found to activate when recalling episodic memories and procedural memories
        
        Brain mapping = mapping mental cognitive functions to specific areas of the brain
        
        E.g. Visual areas
        
        PET scans have shown different regions activated while perceiving
        
        Colour
        
        Lesion studies showed:
        Damage to visual area V4 linked to disorder of being unable to see colour (achromatopsia)
        
        Motion
        
        Lesion studies showed:
        Damage to visual area V5 caused motion blindness
- - - - Because of the emphasis on controlled and replicable laboratory research in studying the mind
        
        Lack ecological validity bc of the artificiality of the tasks and environment, so may not reflect the way ppl process info in their e/day life
        
        E.g. Baddeley (1966) used list of words to find encoding used by LTM
        
        These words had no meaning to the ptps so way used memory in task prob v different than if words had meaning to them
        
        Theories may not explain how memory really works outside the lab
    - - Development of artificial intelligence
      - Schemes can be used to explain how eyewitness memories of events can be distorted therefore inaccurate
        
        Study of memory processes such as cue dependent forgetting has lead to improve EWT: cognitive interview
    - - Beck argues that it is the -ive schemas we hold about the self, the world and the future which lead to depression rather than external events
        
        Does not take into account the genetic factors which seem to be involved in mental disorders such as schizophrenia
        
        This approach has lead to cognitive behavioural therapy
        
        Which is an effective way of dealing w/ depression w/o side effects of drugs
  - - - Because it ignores the role of human emotions and motivations in behaviour
        
        These influence the processing of info and memory
        
        E.g. According to the Yerkes-Dodson law anxiety can influence our memory
- - - - Deterministic
        
        The way we process information is determined by our past experiences (schemas)
      - Free will
        
        In the therapy derived from the approach (CBT) it argues that we can change the way that we think
  - - - Nurture
        
        Argues our b/h is influences by learning and experience
      - Nature
        
        Some of our brains' innate capacities as info processors e.g. language acquisition
  - - - When studying a variable it isolates processes such as memory from other cognitive processes
        
        However, irl we use many cognitive processes simultaneously, so lacks validity
  - - - Focuses on establishing theories on info processing that apply to all ppl
  - - - Highly controlled
        
        Therefore replicable
    - - Therefore, could be argued not as scientific as behaviourist approach