Cognitive Approach (1)

Cognitive Approach (1)

1. Study of internal mental processes

   • Scientifically studied
   • Studied indirectly by making inferences
   • Invisible Gorilla experiment- Simons and Chabris
     • Only 54% noticed gorilla or umbrella-carrying woman
     • Asked to count number of passes of the ball
       • 4 conditions
         • Transparent-gorilla
         • Transparent-umbrella woman
         • Opaque- gorilla
         • Opaque- umbrella woman
     • Harder task (transparent) less noticed unexpected event

2. Role of the schema

   • A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing. They develop from experience
   • Helps interpret information received
   • Babies are born with simple schema e.g. sucking
   • Becomes more detailed as get older
   • Helps process information quickly
   • Prevents being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli
   • Unique to individuals
   • 'War of the Ghosts'- Bartlett- 1932- story changes over time

3. Use of theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes

   • Computer models
     • Similarities in human mind and computer processing
     • Central processing unit (brain), coding, 'stores' to hold information
   • Theoretical model
     • e.g. Multi-store model of memory
     • e.g. information processing approach- information goes through stages: info output, storage and retrieval

4. Emergence of cognitive neuroscience

   • Influence of brain structures on mental processes
   • Advances in brain imaging techniques e.g. fMRI
     • Now able to describe and observe neurological basis of mental processes
       • e.g. finding episodic and semantic memory in opposite sides of prefrontal cortex
     • Help find neurological basis for some mental disorders
       • e.g. parahippocampus gyrus and OCD

5. +/-

   • Scientific and objective measures
     • Controlled methods to study e.g. lab studies
       • Enabled cognitive neuroscience to form
   • Applications
     • Applied to practical and theoretical contexts
       • e.g. contributions to artificial intelligence
       • e.g. therapy types
         • CBT
   • Machine reductionism
     • Similarities between mind and computer e.g. input, output, central processor
       • Ignores human motivation and emotion
         • e.g. influence accurate recall in EWT
         • Is oversimplifying
   • Lacks external validity
     • Only infer mental processes from behaviour observed
       • Is too abstract and theoretical
     • Research uses artificial stimuli
       • e.g. recall list
       • May not represent everyday situations

6. Assumptions

   • Thought processes should be scientifically studied
   • How someone behaves can be used to make inferences about their behaviour
   • Mind is like a computer
     • Produces behaviour as a results of information inputted into our senses