Psychology - The Cognitive Approach

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  • Created by: Kittus
  • Created on: 27-10-19 18:24
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  • Cognitive Approach
    • Assumptions
      • Computer Analogy
        • The idea that the human brain works like a computer
          • Input -> PROCESS    -> Output
        • Process
          • Actively use cognitive process of perception, attention and memory
        • Memory
          • We remember in 2 ways and they are the most fragile
            • Primary Information - the first pieces of info retained
            • Recency - the last pieces of info retained
          • Multi Store Model
            • Th Idea that our memory is like a ware house with different 'departments' of information
            • Short Term memory in the front, long term in the back
          • Our memories are reconstructed
        • 2 types of knowledge
          • Declarative Knowledge (information you know)
          • Procedural Knowledge (Things you know how to do)
      • Schemas
        • Organised packets of information for every event / role / process and relationship
        • Affects how we understand things and how we act
        • Schemas are built through experience however don't always represent reality as they are built through social exchanges i.e. conversations with others and the media.
        • Event Schemas - known as scripts
        • Role Schemas - tell us about roles (burglar / nurse)
      • Internal Mental Process
        • Humans are basically information processors
          • Cognitive processes include: perception, attention, memory and language
            • They all work together to help us understand our surroundings
            • Example: We see a dog. We know it's a dog..,
              • We have perceived its features, searched through our memories for a 'match' with that we have already seen/ experienced, then name it with our knowledge of language
    • Relationship Formation
      • Schema Theory (Relationship Schema)
        • The idea we have set scripts, criteria and expectations for our relationships and partners
        • At the beginning our schemas are unreliable as it's not built from personal experience, rather what you learn from media and friends
        • Develop with time and experience
        • Negative points
          • Accepting abuse can be part of your relationship schema
          • If x person did something and it was a sign of cheating, if z person does it - can be paranoid when unnecessary
      • Halo Effect - Dion et al (1972)
        • Attractive people = attractive personality traits
        • This theory is seen in Disney films
        • Interestingly pretty females were seen as less inteligent
        • Someone's attractiveness can be a factor in if you get in a relationship with them and what you expect from them
        • Study found teachers gave cut 'attractive' infants more attention
      • Perception of Self and Others
        • Self confidence, self esteem and self worth effect who you form a relationship with and how
        • Perception isn't always realistic
        • Bias and false interpretations
        • Influential Factors
          • Bullying
          • Religion
          • Culture / social norms
          • Influential Figures
          • Other people / relationships / company
          • Support / accomplishments
          • Media
          • Physical Appearance
      • Matching Hypothesis - Walster (1960's)
        • The idea that people with equal levels of attractiveness are happier in their relationships
        • A 1/10 with a 1/10 will be just as happy as a 10/10 with a 10/10
        • 4/5 difference rating out of 10 would be unhappy
          • 8/10 with a 10/10 would still be quite happy
            • A 1/10 with a 1/10 will be just as happy as a 10/10 with a 10/10
        • Why this could be wrong
          • Perception of beauty
          • Other factors; money, hobbies, mental health
      • Social Exchange Theory
        • Idea of weighing the positives and negatives of a relationship with someone
          • See if it's 'worth' being with someone
        • Stay if benefits outweigh the costs
    • Classic Evidence (Loftus and Palmer, 1974)
      • Methodology
        • 2 Experiments
          • 150 participants
          • 45 participants
        • Independent Groups Design
        • Conducted in Laboratory
        • Students
      • Procedures
        • Experiment 1
          • Answers recorded in mph
          • Critical Changes: Hit, smashes, collided, bumped and contacted
          • Details: Shown 7 clips of traffic accidents. Questionnaire after. Asked series of questions too
          • Groups: 5 groups of 9
          • "About how fast were the cars going when they ___ each other?"
        • Experiment 2
          • looks at if leading question bias is a response or if it alters the memory
          • Critical changes: smash and hit
          • Groups: 3 groups of 50
          • Control group were not exposed to any question
          • PART 1 - Shown a film of a multiple car crash, accident lasted less than 4 sec, asked set of questions including critical question
            • Critical Q: How fast were the cars going when they ___ each other?
            • PART 2 - Return week later, asked further questions, no broken glass in film, thought car was faster = imagine broken glass
              • Critical Q: Did you see any broken glass?
      • Findings
        • Experiment 1
          • "contacted" estimated the lowest speed
          • "smashed" higher speed
          • Mean speed estimate for each group
        • Experiment 2
          • P1
            • Same conclusion as E1
          • P 2
            • "Smashed" group were more than twice as likely to say yes
            • "Smashed" = 16 yes / 34 no   , "hit" = 7 yes / 43 no    , control = 6 yes / 44 no
      • Conclusions
        • Critical word influences or bias persons response
        • The memory representation is altered, critical word changes the memory so perception of events is effected
        • Findings from 2 suggest leading questions does not cause results bias but altered memory
        • Carmichael et al(1932)
      • Ethics
        • Deceived
          • Told it was an EWT experiment
          • Not told it focused on leading questions
          • Study wouldn't of worked if they knew
        • No valid consent
        • Psychological Harm
          • People could already have trauma, didn't make sure everyone was in the right place psychologically
          • Could of caused psych. trauma
          • Arguable that it wasn't too traumatizing and worse is depicted in the media
      • Social Implications
        • workplace
        • law
        • Education
        • Families
        • Health
      • Effectiveness
        • The Sample (-)
          • US
          • College Students
        • Controlled Experiment Positive
          • The Sample (-)
            • US
            • College Students
          • Experimental control
          • Lab
        • Controlled Experiment Negative
          • Artifficial Results
          • Not a personal experience - only a simulation
          • Ecological Validity is low
    • Therapies
      • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
        • Aaron Beck & The Cognitive Triad
          • He noticed 'The Cognitive Triad' while treating depressed patients and developed CBT from it
          • The Cognitive Triad
            • Where depressed people had unrealistic thoughts about:
            • The Self
            • The World
            • The Future
          • Tackle depression and pessimistic views by breaking a point in the cycle
        • CBT Compnents
          • 1) The Cognitive Element - identifying negative thoughts
          • 2) The Behavioral Element - reality testing during session or as homework
        • Dysfunctional Thoughts Diary
          • Keep records of events leading to any unpleasant emotion
          • Record the automatic negative thought
            • Rate how much they believe in this thought (1-100)
              • Write rational responses (could it be...)
                • Rate belief in the rational response (1-100)
                  • Re-rate beliefs in the automatic thought (1-100)
        • Cognitive Re-structuring
          • Reveal thought patterns to therapist
          • Identify and change negative thought patterns
            • 'Therapy during therapy'
          • Taught to challenge automatic dysfunctional thoughts
            • Replace with constructive thoughts
          • Try new ways of reacting / behaving
        • Pleasant Activity Scheduling
          • Nice thing a day
          • Activation technique - helps clients change behavior
          • Moving away from negative thinking and maladaptive behavior
          • Keep record of the experience
        • Strengths and Weaknesses
          • Weaknesses
            • Costly
            • Commitment (time)
            • Long process
            • Lying
            • Need rational agent with good level of cognition
            • Communication
            • Over dependent
            • Slow results
            • Doesn't work for everyone
          • Strengths
            • No medication or addiction
            • Impartial
            • Long term solution
            • Positive consiquences
            • Non invasive
            • Individual in control
        • Ethical Issues
          • Patient Blame
          • What is rational?
        • Effectiveness
          • Research Support (+)
          • Therapist Competence
          • Individual Differences
          • Empowerment
      • Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
        • Ellis (1950's)
          • Way to identify negative thoughts is to use the ABCDE Model
            • A - Activating Event
            • B - Belief
            • C - Consequences
            • E - Effects of Disputing
            • D - Disputing
              • Logical Disputing
              • Empirical Disputing
              • Pragmatic Disputing
        • Musturbatory Thinking
          • Thinking certain ideas MUST be true for happiness
          • I MUST be approved by people I find important
          • I MUST do very well or I'm worthless
          • Others MUST give me what I need or they are rotten
          • People MUST live up to my expectations
        • Unconditional Positive Regard
        • Strengths and Weaknesses
          • Weaknesses
            • Costly
            • Commitment (time)
            • Long process
            • Lying
            • Need rational agent with good level of cognition
            • Communication
            • Over dependent
            • Slow results
            • Doesn't work for everyone
          • Strengths
            • No medication or addiction
            • Impartial
            • Long term solution
            • Positive consiquences
            • Non invasive
            • Individual in control
        • Ethical Issues
          • Client Distress
          • Over dependence
          • Forceful Therapy
          • Patient Blame
        • Effectiveness
          • Not suitable for all
          • Appropriateness
          • Research Evidence
          • Irrational Environments
    • Evaluation
      • Scientific Approach (+)
      • Mediational Process (+)
      • Important Contributions (+)
      • Determinist Approach (-)
      • Nature and Nurture (-)
      • Mechanistic Approach (-)

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