Cognitive Psychology Approach Summary

This is a mind map of the Cognitive Approach. It is a summary and easy to revise from and make notes from. All colour co-ordinated to help you understand the connections to each subheading.

?
  • Created by: Louisa
  • Created on: 13-12-12 15:18
View mindmap
  • COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
    • WHAT IS COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY?
      • It is based on an analogy between the mind and a digital computer. Individuals receive information through their senses and Cognitive Psychology focuses o how people make sense of this information.
      • 1. Input through one of the senses   2.Processing occurs using currently installed software (previous experience and knowledge   3. Response which may be action or chosen inaction
      • Therefore  Cognitive Psychology is the study of all mental processes such as memory, perception, thinking, reasoning, problem solving and language.
      • By taking a cognitive approach, psychologists try to explain behavior   through the effects of mental processes.
    • KEY STUDIES
      • LOFTUS AND PALMER - Reconstruction of automobile destruction
      • BARON-COHEN - Another advanced test of theory of mind: evidence from very high functioning adults with autism or Asperger syndrome.
      • SAVAGE-RUMBAUGH - Spontaneous symbol acquisition and communicative use by Pygmy Chimpanzees.
    • ASSUMPTIONS OF COGNITIVE APPROACH
      • 1.  Behavior can largely be explained in terms of how the mind operates
      • 2. The mind works in a manner which is similar to a computer; inputting, storing and retrieving data
    • STENGTHS OF COGNITIVE APPROACH
      • The cognitive approach used rigorous, scientific methods to investigate behavior
      • Has many useful applications such as: language, perception and memory
      • Has contributed to our understanding of humans
    • WEAKNESSES OF COGNITIVE APPROACH
      • Can be over simplistic, ignores other complexities of human functioning compared to that of a computer
      • Unrealistic - studies often lack real to life (low in ecological validity)
      • Ignores emotion and freewill  (lying) in humans
    • MEMORY - SCHEMA THEORY (BEST FITS)
      • You only remember the things that you need to know, mainly the most emotional parts and the rest of it you will try to fit it best you can into the story.
      • Limited Capacity Machine

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Psychology resources:

See all Psychology resources »See all Cognitive Psychology resources »