Cognitive Approach

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  • Created by: Han2812
  • Created on: 10-05-14 16:27
What are the basic assumptions of the Cognitive Approach?
Mental Processes lie between stimulus and response. Humans are information-processors. Human actively organise + manipulate information from the environment. The way the mind works in the same way as a computer - both ENCODE, STORE + OUTPUT data
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How is it different from other approaches?
1: It uses scientific, experimental methods to measure mental processes, thereby rejecting the psychodynamic use of introspection. 2: Focuses on the importance of mental processes, eg. beliefs, desires + motivation, unlike behaviourist approach
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What is Informational-Processing Approach?
COMPUTER ANALOGY - Mind is the SOFTWARE, brain is the HARDWARE. We as individuals ENCODE and STORE information and OUTPUT a behaviour. This is the COMPUTATIONAL MODEL - seeks to explain how our cognitive system operates in terms of plans or actions
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What is the CONNECTIONIST MODEL?
NEURAL ANALOGY - the mind is made up of millions of neurons, or nodes - connections between these nodes form an activating pattern which represents an meaningful or learnt association between 2 or more environmental stimuli
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What are the STRENGTHS of the cognitive approach?
STRENGTHS: Focuses on mental processes, unlike Behaviourism. Uses scientific + experimental methods, unlike Humanistic psychologists. Models used explain mental processes effectively. Provide useful applications: improving reliability of eyewitness
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What are the WEAKNESSES of the cognitive approach?
WEAKNESSES: Models are over-simplified - ignore complexities of the mind. Crude comparison of humans as machines - DEHUMANISING. Cognitive theories based on performance in labs - lack ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY - unrepresentative of the real world
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How is it different from other approaches?

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1: It uses scientific, experimental methods to measure mental processes, thereby rejecting the psychodynamic use of introspection. 2: Focuses on the importance of mental processes, eg. beliefs, desires + motivation, unlike behaviourist approach

Card 3

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What is Informational-Processing Approach?

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Card 4

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What is the CONNECTIONIST MODEL?

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Card 5

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What are the STRENGTHS of the cognitive approach?

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