The cognitive approach The cognitive approach is concerned with how thinking shapes our behaviour Compare this to the biological behaviourist and psychodynamic approach The cognitive approach ID: 690672
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Slide1
4.1 Assumptions
Approach 4: The Cognitive Approach Slide2
The cognitive approach
The cognitive approach is concerned with how thinking shapes our behaviour.
Compare this to the biological, behaviourist and psychodynamic approach...Slide3
The cognitive approach
Cognitive psychologists explain all behaviour in terms of thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and study how these direct our behaviour. Cognitive psychologists are looking at the
internal
processes of the mind. Slide4
Assumption 1: The Computer Analogy
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
OUTPUTSlide5
Assumption 1: The Computer Analogy
In this analogy, hardware would be ________and software would be the __________________
What are inputs?
What are outputs?Why are we not completely
like computers?
the brain
cognitive processesSlide6
Assumption 1: The Computer Analogy
The Multistore Memory Model (Atkinson and Shriffrin 1968)Slide7
Assumption 2: Internal Mental Processes
Humans are basically seen as information processers.
How information received from our senses is processed by the brain and how this processing directs how we behave.
Also looks at how various cognitive functions work together to help us make sense of the world.Slide8
Assumption 2: Internal Mental Processes
Define the
internal
processes that a cognitive psychologist may be interested in.
Imagine
you see a bunch of flowers.
How would
the processes above work together to enable you to know what it is?Slide9
Assumption 2: Internal Mental Processes
Investigating internal mental processes:
A problem with the cognitive approach is that thoughts can not directly be observed or measured. Early psychologists such as Wundt (1879) used
introspection
to investigate thoughts.
What is introspection (pg70)? How valid is it?Slide10
Assumption 2: Internal Mental Processes
Modern cognitive psychology takes a scientific approach towards studying behaviour.
We can not directly observe the inner workings of the mind. However, scientific and controlled experiments allow psychologists to infer what is happening.
Laboratory studiesSlide11
Assumption 3: Schemata
Part of the mental processes identified by the cognitive approach are schemata (singular: schema).
Mental structures that represent an aspect of the world, such as an object or event.
Help us to make sense of the world, providing short cuts to identifying things that we come across. Slide12
Assumption 3: Schemata
For example,
It has a large metal door
Buttons and knobs
Gets hot inside
Has hot metal rings on top
It’s probably a cooker!
Your schema for “cooker” allows you to be able to identify all cookers so long as they don’t veer too far from your mental schema. Slide13
Assumption 3: Schemata
On the post it notes, write down what you think would be part of your schema for a psychology lesson.Slide14
Assumption 3: Schemata
The text
on the sheet is
a good example to demonstrate how a schema can have an effect on our recall. You will all be asked to read and recall the text. Half of you however will be given the title of the text, half will not.
Who
will remember the most? Slide15
Assumption 3: Schemata
Half of the class, close your eyes now!
The title of the text is “How to do Laundry”
Open your eyes!Read the text, and then see how much you can recallSlide16
Assumption 3: Schemata
Which group was able to recall more details? What was the title of the text? How would this affect recall?Slide17
Assumption 3: Schemata
Schemata are generated through experience and interactions with others.
However they are not always correct
Can be the basis for stereotypes, causing racism, sexism etc. Can cause us to misremember events that do not fit our schemaSlide18
Assumption 3: Schemata
Allport
and Postman (1947).
Showed white participants a picture of a black person being held at knifepoint by a white man. When
asked to recall the event however, they misremembered the black man as the mugger.
How
can schemata explain the
results?Slide19
Assumption 3: Schemata
Read the riddle at the top of page 71 (under the picture of the surgeons). What is the answer to this riddle? How could schemata explain why some people might take a while to see the correct answer?Slide20
Exam Practice
Exam corner on
pg
71Assumptions activities on pg 84