Cognitive Approach

COGNITIVE APPROACH

AO1

• How our internal mental processes affect our behaviour
• Argues that internal mental processes should be studied scientifically
• Links are often made between how a computer works and how we process information
• Interested in how the brain inputs, stores and retrieves information
• Computer models
• Main assumption - information received from our senses is processed by the brain and this processing directs how we behave
• Internal mental processes cannot be observed directly but we can INFER what a person is thinking based on how they act

• Schema - mental framework of beliefs and expectations developed by previous experience, helps us organise and interpret information
• Schemas help us to interpret incoming information quickly and effectively - prevents us from being overwhelmed by vast amount…