Cognitive Approach

• Created in the 1960’s when computers were emerging
• Two main contributors were Jean Piaget and George Kelly  

• Was Swiss Psychologist 
• Initially was working on investigating intelligence 
• Realised that children of the same age made the same logic problems despite how intelligent they were 
• Developed a series of developmental stages that children must go through. 

Sensorimotor

• 0-2 Years
• Discover the world by using senses and motor activity e.g. a child putting things in their mouth while playing

Pre-operational

• 2-7 Years
• The child is egocentric. Language and memory are developing e.g. Begin to use sentences and remember where things have been put

Concrete Operational

• 7-11 Years
• Can only solve problems that are in front of them e.g. a child doing math problems in school

Formal Operational

• 11+ Years
• Can now use abstract thoughts and do problems mentally e.g. Children at school can look at the meaning behind poems

• Developed a theory called psychology of personal constructs
• He stated that when you do something and you have a memory of it you will keep it and expect the same thing to happen next time e.g. when going to the see your GP you walk in sit down and tell them the problem 
  • However, if when you go something different happens e.g. the GP walks in after you then you will revise your memories and will be ready to expect the same thing to happen next time 

• There is lots of research backing up the theory including experiments on memory.
  • This means that it an understandable approach as well are able to see the affect on human behaviour 
• Has developed various useful treatments e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy which has been used on many people with mental health problems 

• It ignores genetic and the unconscious mind making it reductionist 
• Only controlled experiments were used making it artificial as people may not behave in a way that they naturally would
  • May not reflect real life meaning that we can not generalise the results to reality