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Approaches - Coggle Diagram
Approaches
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The Biological Approach
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The Biological Basis of Behaviour:
- Heritability Coefficients: these measure the genetic influence on traits. E.g. IQ has a heritability coefficient of around 0.5, indicating equal contributions from genetics and the environment (Plomin)
- Genotype vs Phenotype:
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Intro and Assumptions:
- Core principle: the biological approach views humans as biological organisms, with all thoughts, ideas, and behaviours rooted in physiological processes
- Mind and Brain: the approach argues that the mind is not seperate from the brain, unlike in the cognitive approach. Instead, all cognitive processes are seen as having a biological origin
- Influence of genes and neurochemistry: behaviours are shaped by the actions of genes, hormones, neurotransmitters, and other neurochemical mechanisms
The Cognitive Approach
The Emergence of Cognitive Neuroscience:
- Definition: cognitive neuroscience studies biological processes that underpin cognition, focusing on brain areas associated with specific functions
- Historical Milestones:
- 1870s Brain Mapping: Wernicke identified specific brain areas linked to language comprehension based on aphasia studies
- 1970s Localisation Studies: PET scans identified active areas during specific cognitive tasks
- Current research: studied explore brain regions involved in planning, moral reasoning, and conditions like autism
Potential Applications:
- Modern applications of cognitive neuroscience, such as in technology and education
- Use of models to interpret cognition
- Schema-based explanations of perceptual errors
Intro and Assumptions:
- Core principle: cognitive psychology assumes that internal mental processes can be studied scientifically, though indirectly, by observing behaviours and inferring underlying processes
- Computer and Theoretical Models: cognitive psychologists often use models, like the working memory model, to conceptualise how memory operates. The computer analogy compares the mind to a computer, where input, processing, and output parallel human cognitive functions
- Schemas: mental frameworks the help us quickly process information, though they can lead to perceptual distortions due to pre-existing assumptions
Evaluation:
- Scientific rigor: cognitive neuroscience enhances psychology's scientific credibility with objective methods like PET and MRI scans
- Real-world impact: cognitive neuroscience contributes to technology design, education, and medical diagnostics, showcasing practical value
- Soft determinism: unlike the rigid determinism of behaviourism, the cognitive approach acknowledges that humans make choices within their cognitive limits, offering a more human-centred perspective on behaviour
- Abstract concepts: heavy reliance on inferences and models can make concepts seem overly theoretical, limiting practical applications
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