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Cognitive approach

What do you suppose you'd see if you could replay your thoughts on a screen? That would be a dream come true for cognitive psychologists! Imagine if mental processes were as easy to observe as behaviour.First, we will define the cognitive approach.Next, we'll go over the different cognitive approach assumptions.Then, delve into the cognitive approach strengths and weaknesses.We will glance…

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Cognitive approach

Cognitive approach
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What do you suppose you'd see if you could replay your thoughts on a screen? That would be a dream come true for cognitive psychologists! Imagine if mental processes were as easy to observe as behaviour.

  • First, we will define the cognitive approach.
  • Next, we'll go over the different cognitive approach assumptions.
  • Then, delve into the cognitive approach strengths and weaknesses.
  • We will glance through a few cognitive approach examples in real life.
  • Lastly, we'll also consider the importance of the cognitive behavioural approach.

Cognitive Approach Psychology

In looking at the psychology of aggressive behaviour, for example, do psychologists only look at the behaviour in response to an event? What about the thoughts that accompanied the aggression? One psychological approach that emphasises internal mental processes is the cognitive approach.

Cognitive approach, image of studying internal mental processes, StudySmarterFig. 1 The cognitive approach highlights how internal processes influence behaviour.

The cognitive approach in psychology focuses on how people understand, take in, organise and use information.

When behaviourism dominated psychology in the early twentieth century, the emphasis on observable behaviour made it difficult to research cognition, resulting in dissatisfaction with the approach. This discontent, combined with the 1960s development of computers, led to the cognitive approach in psychology.

The Study of Internal Mental Processes

Cognitive psychologists hold that internal mental processes underpin behaviour and stress the value of conducting empirical research on these difficult-to-observe processes.

Internal mental processes, such as memory, perception, reasoning, and language, are mental activities for processing information that influences behaviour.

The cognitive approach explains human behaviour as affected mainly by internal mental processes. From a cognitive approach, psychologists study these mental processes to understand better how we decide, solve problems, create ideas, remember information, and use language, which all relate to our behaviour.

To illustrate the study of internal mental processes in cognitive psychology, here's an example of a famous study on perception by Simons and Chabris (1999).

The experiment aimed to test the differences in perception and attention. Researchers asked two hundred twenty-eight participants to watch four videos where two teams of basketball players pass an orange basketball between one another.

One group wore white T-shirts, and the other wore black T-shirts.

The participants were asked to count the number of passes in two conditions:

  1. Tally only the number of throws.
  2. Count both throws and bounces made between each player.

The researchers either presented a transparent or opaque video to the participants. The videos also showed a woman with an umbrella or a man in a gorilla costume.

In the transparent video, the players appeared to be see-through. The researchers separated the subjects into two groups: the first group watched the transparent video, and the other group the opaque one.

After the presentation, the participants recorded their tally and indicated whether they observed anything unusual.

The results showed that only 54% noticed the unexpected event. The unexpected event was more noticeable in the opaque videos, and the more challenging task made it difficult for the participants to catch the unexpected event.

The researchers concluded that inattention makes us unaware of certain visual stimuli.

The Emergence of Cognitive Neuroscience

We've seen an example of how cognitive psychology uses behavioural data (e.g., performance in mental tasks) to examine cognitive processes such as perception. However, these approaches are pretty indirect.

Over the past years, there have been significant developments in gathering more direct evidence about internal mental processes. With the development of brain-scanning machines, the ability to search for the biological basis of internal mental processes also has advanced.

This encouraged the formation of cognitive science in 1956, followed by recognising neuroscience as a discipline in 1971. Efforts to close the gap between cognitive science and neuroscience resulted in cognitive neuroscience.

Cognitive neuroscience combines brain activity and behaviour analysis to understand human cognition using brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a technique that provides insight into the brain activity of activated areas during a mental task.

Although the advancement of brain imaging techniques is incredible, it doesn't come without limitations. One limitation of brain imaging techniques is that they do not show whether certain brain areas help perform a task.

Activation of some brain areas may be due to stimulation not relevant to the activity. It can only indicate links between behaviour and brain activity.

Memory and the Role of Schema

Memory is one of the main areas of cognitive psychology. Investigations through the cognitive approach lead to essential discoveries on memory and the role of schema.

There are several ways in which the cognitive approach explains memory:

  1. Our memory consists of different stores, short-term and long-term memory, as proposed in the multi-store model of memory by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968).
  2. In the levels-of-processing (LOP) approach by Craik and Lockhart (1972), memory is a product of information processing, for which there are three levels: structural processing (e.g., arrangement of words), phonetic processing (e.g., the sound of words), and semantic processing (e.g., meaning of words). This approach focuses on how well we remember information based on the level of processing.
  3. The cognitive approach also explains memory by looking at its reconstructive aspect. Explaining memory's reconstructive nature emphasises what happens during memory storage and retrieval. Bartlett (1932) suggested that memory undergoes reconstruction as influenced by our schema.

Schemas are our internal framework of knowledge about the world that directs us about what to expect and respond to in the environment.

The role of schemas is:

  • To help us predict events in everyday situations (e.g., what happens in school).
  • To create meaning when we read or listen to something.
  • To help in the process of visual perception.

For example, you're uncertain if a photo shows a cloud or a feather, but when you see it against a sky background, you realise it's a feather-looking cloud. Activating a schema (sky) enabled you to perceive it as a cloud.

Cognitive Approach Assumptions

We've seen how the cognitive approach within psychology highlighted the scientific investigations of internal mental processes. In this section, we'll look at the main assumptions of the cognitive approach.

  • In cognitive psychology, the approach assumes that empirical studies of internal mental processes are possible.
  • In cognitive psychology, the approach also assumes that the mind works similarly to a computer.
  • The cognitive approach in psychology holds that individuals are information processors where there is input, storage, and retrieval of data.
  • The cognitive approach within psychology also holds that internal mental processes lead to behaviours.
  • Cognitive psychologist believes that our schemas influence our internal mental processes.

We've seen how cognitive psychologists measure accuracy and performance to draw inferences about internal mental processes. Aside from that, the cognitive approach in psychology also uses theoretical and computer models to explain internal mental processes.

An inference is to draw a logical conclusion from different sources (e.g., theoretical models) and pieces of evidence (e.g., study findings).

Use of Theoretical and Computer Models

Cognitive psychology uses models to make assumptions about how the mind works and then, in turn, experiments to test these assumptions. Cognitive psychologists use the models to explain their findings if the results support the model's predictions.

There are two kinds of models theoretical and computer models.

Theoretical models are verbal theories that attempt to explain mental processes, which may be vague. And computer models are programmed theories (via computer programs) of mental processes, which may be more precise than theoretical models.

How does the cognitive approach draw inferences about human cognition using theoretical models? Here's an example using the working memory model.

According to Baddeley and Hitch (1974), the central executive component functions to control attention, but the exact nature of this component remains unclear. To better understand the capacity of the central executive, we can make predictions using the model's assumptions. One assumption is that the central executive has a small storage.

Hitch and Baddeley (1976) predicted that the simultaneous performance of a verbal thinking test and remembering six random digits would involve the central executive, which can impact the performance of the verbal thinking test. The results were consistent with the model.

As you can see, they did not directly observe the central executive but only drew inferences based on the theoretical model. The working memory model was able to explain their findings.

How do computer models draw inferences about mental processes? Let's look at Newell's and Simon's (1972) General Problem Solver, one of the earliest computer models in cognitive psychology. They designed the program by gathering verbal reports and encoding a specific problem-solving approach in the program. Testing the program showed that the General Problem Solver and humans worked similarly in problem-solving.

The findings also suggested that humans use simple strategies to solve problems, which was one of the assumptions of the computer program. Another interesting result is that the model can better remember previous outcomes of a problem but perform poorly in planning future actions.

Cognitive Approach: Strengths and Weaknesses

This section will discuss the cognitive approach's strengths and weaknesses.

The following are the strengths of the cognitive approach:

  • The cognitive approach uses scientific and controlled experiments that produce reliable results and can be replicated, such as MRI scan results.
  • The cognitive approach provides practical applications for understanding internal mental processes, such as schemas.

Schemas can help us understand, for example, how eyewitness memories can be distorted and become invalid.

  • Studying cognitive processes helps us understand some psychological conditions, such as depression. Beck (1967) proposed that the negative schemas (a cognitive approach concept) about oneself, the world, and the future cause depression.
  • This approach supports the application of cognitive behavioural therapy to treat conditions like depression effectively.

The following are the weaknesses of the cognitive approach:

  • The cognitive approach is criticised for reducing human activity to computer levels and ignoring the role of emotions or feelings that may influence behavioural outcomes. For example, according to Yerkes & Dodson (1908), anxiety can affect our understanding of events and memory.
  • It ignores the genetic factors causing certain mental disorders, such as schizophrenia. Thus, it is considered reductionist as it over-simplifies and reduces explaining behaviour to one component.
  • The use of lab experiments reduces the ecological validity of the approach, as participants undergo complicated tests in an artificial environment.

Cognitive Approach Examples

With a deeper appreciation and understanding of internal mental processes, the cognitive approach provides practical applications:

Cognitive approach, image of teacher and students, StudySmarterFig. 2 The cognitive approach has been applied to educational settings.

Concepts from the information processing model and schema helped improve learning and teaching strategies in education settings. Teachers can use the cognitive approach to increase understanding and retention of information and to make learning more meaningful by connecting new information with previously learned material.

The cognitive approach can also provide insights into the reliability of eyewitness testimony aiding police work, such as cognitive interviews.

A cognitive interview is an interview technique that helps retrieve eyewitness memory to reduce interviewer influence.

This involves mentally recreating the setting in which the crime took place or going back to the original location to improve memory retrieval.

Cognitive Behavioural Approach

Another significant development from cognition observation is the cognitive behavioural approach or cognitive behavioural therapy. Aaron Beck developed this type of approach in the 1960s. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps people change their behaviour by examining their thoughts and feelings and then challenging those thoughts and feelings.

The cognitive behavioural approach recognises three elements of cognition that play a role in psychological disorders:

  • Automatic thoughts refer to immediate thoughts or perception about an event that affects emotions and behaviour.
  • Cognitive distortions are ways of thinking that usually lead to wrong conclusions, such as emotional reasoning, over-generalisation, or catastrophising.
  • Underlying beliefs are our schemas that influence what we think about an event.

Catastrophising is when you think about the worst thing that could happen, no matter how unlikely it is, or when you see a situation as worse than it is.

Cognitive approach - Key takeaways

  • The cognitive approach advocates the scientific study of internal mental processes.
  • The cognitive approach suggests that our brain processes information like a computer system with input-store-process-output.
  • Schemas are our internal framework of knowledge about the world that directs us about what to expect and respond to in the environment.
  • Cognitive neuroscience combines brain activity and behaviour analysis to understand human cognition.
  • Cognitive psychology uses experiments to verify the assumptions of theoretical and computer models of mental processes.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cognitive approach

The cognitive approach in psychology focuses on how people understand, take in, organise and use information. It advocates the scientific study of internal mental processes. 

The cognitive approach explains human behaviour as affected mainly by internal mental processes. From a cognitive approach, psychologists study these mental processes to understand better how we decide, solve problems, create ideas, remember information, and use language, which all relate to our behaviour.

The social cognitive approach in psychology holds that behaviour is not just a response to a stimulus but an interplay of influences from the environment, experiences, mental processes, and other individual traits such as cultural background.

The cognitive approach defines memory as a succession of stores (e.g., multi-store model of memory), a product of information processing (e.g., levels-of-processing approach), and reconstructive (e.g., influences of schema).

The strengths of the cognitive approach are it uses scientific and controlled experiments that produce reliable results and can be replicated, and has many practical applications. 


A weakness is that it can be considered reductionist.

Final Cognitive approach Quiz

Cognitive approach Quiz - Teste dein Wissen

Question

What is the cognitive approach?

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Answer

The cognitive approach suggests that our brain processes information just like a computer system with input-store-process-output.


Show question

Question

The cognitive approach advocates the ______ study of the internal mental processes.


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Answer

Scientific.

Show question

Question

Internal mental processes work between a stimulus and ______ that make them eligible to be studied scientifically.


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Answer

Response

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Question

The cognitive approach assumes that human minds and ______ processes work in a similar way.


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Answer

Computer.

Show question

Question

What are schemas?

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Answer

Schemas are our internal framework of knowledge about the world that directs us about what to expect and respond to in the environment.


Show question

Question

Cognitive processing is influenced by _____.

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Answer

Schemas.

Show question

Question

What is the example given in the text about when schemas can become distorted?

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Answer

Eyewitness testimony.

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Question

Neuroscience studies the impact of brain structure on information processing by the brain using ______.

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Answer

Brain imaging techniques

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Question

Provide one strength and weakness of the lab experiment method.


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  •  In lab experiments, external variables are controlled to make results more reliable and can be replicated.
  • However, their ecological validity is reduced as they are not performed in the natural surroundings of the participants.  

Show question

Question

Provide one argument in favour of the cognitive approach.


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Answer

  • The Cognitive approach uses scientific and controlled experiments that produce reliable results and be replicated such as MRI scan results.

  • The cognitive approach provides practical applications for understanding internal mental processes, such as schemas. Schemas can help us understand, for example, how eyewitness memories can be distorted and become invalid.
  • The importance of studying cognitive processes helps us understand some psychological conditions such as depression. Beck (1967) suggests that it is the negative schemas about oneself, the world and the future that causes depression in people.
  • This approach supports the application of cognitive behavioural therapy that is used to effectively treat conditions like depression.

(Any one can be used)

Show question

Question

Provide one argument against the cognitive approach.


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Answer

  • It ignores the genetic factors that may be involved in causing certain mental disorders such as schizophrenia.
  • The cognitive approach is criticized for reducing human activity to computer levels and ignoring the role of emotions or feelings that may influence behavioural outcomes. For example, according to Yerkes & Dodson (1908), anxiety can affect our understanding of events and memory.
  • The use of lab experiments reduces the ecological validity of the approach, as participants are tested with complicated tests in an artificial environment.

(Any one can be used)

Show question

Question

What is an application of the cognitive approach provided in the text?


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Answer

This approach supports the application of cognitive behavioural therapy that is used to effectively treat conditions like depression.


Show question

Question

Explain brain imaging studies.


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Answer

Psychologists use brain imaging techniques like MRI and PET scans to determine the active centres of the brain, as all information processing takes place in the centre of the brain.


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Question

What are demand characteristics?


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Answer

Demand characteristics are when your interpretation or opinion changes as opposed to the intimidating characteristics of the situation or a person.


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Case studies are used on a small sample studying ___conditions.


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Answer

Rare

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Question

Describe the cognitive approach.

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Answer

The cognitive approach suggests that our brain processes information just like a computer system with input-store-process-output.

Show question

Question

The model used to describe the mind is called the...

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Answer

information-processing model. 

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What type of information is relayed to internal mental processes according to the cognitive approach? 

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Answer

Sensory information. 

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Attention and memory are examples of what?

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Internal mental processes. 

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Question

A girl may assume that all girls like playing with dolls because, in her previous experience, she was scolded for playing with her brother's action figures. Using principles of the cognitive approach, what does this example highlight? 

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How schemas can influence our thoughts and behaviour. 

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Schemas are                         in our brain that direct us about what to expect and respond to in the environment. 

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Answer

internal scripts

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What influences schemas?

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Answer

Past experiences.

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Schemas influence and can cause bias in mental processes, true or false?

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True.

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What is the issue of distorted schemas?

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It can cause people to give a false eyewitness testimony. 

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What are the two common techniques used to research cognitive processes? 

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Answer

Lab experiments and brain imaging studies. 

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Who developed cognitive behavioural therapy?

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Answer

Aaron Beck.

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Question

According to the cognitive behavioural approach, what are the three elements of cognition that play a role in psychological disorders?

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Answer

Automatic thoughts, cognitive distortions, and underlying beliefs.

Show question

Question

Emotional reasoning and overgeneralisation are examples of what?

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Answer

Cognitive distortions.

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Question

___________ is one of the earliest computer models in cognitive psychology.

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Answer

General Problem Solver.

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What did Newell and Simon (1972) find in their computer model testing?

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They found that the General Problem Solver and humans worked similarly in problem-solving.

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The multi-store model of memory is an example of what?

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Theoretical model.

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What are the two models used to draw inferences about internal mental processes?

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Theoretical models and computer models.

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How does the cognitive approach use theoretical and computer models to explain internal mental processes?

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Answer

Models are used to make assumptions about how the mind works, and experiments are carried out to test these assumptions. Cognitive psychologists use the models to explain their findings if the results support the model's predictions.

Show question

Question

What did Hitch and Baddeley (1976) predict from their working memory model?

Show answer

Answer

They predicted that both a verbal thinking task and memorization of six random digits would use the central executive, which, when done together, would impair the performance in the verbal thinking task.

Show question

Question

True or false. The results from Hitch and Baddeley's experiment were consistent with the model's assumption about the central executive.

Show answer

Answer

True.

Show question

Question

What is an inference?

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Answer

An inference is to draw a logical conclusion from different sources (e.g., theoretical models) and pieces of evidence (e.g., study findings).

Show question

Question

What is one role of a schema?

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Answer

  • To help us predict events in everyday situations.
  • To create meaning when we read or listen to something.
  • To help in the process of visual perception.

(Any one of the above.)

Show question

Question

According to Bartlett (1932), memory undergoes reconstruction as influenced by our _________.

Show answer

Answer

Schema.

Show question

Question

What are the three levels of information processing according to Craik and Lockhart (1972)?

Show answer

Answer

Structural processing, phonetic processing and semantic processing.

Show question

Question

What is one example of a brain-imaging technique in the text used in cognitive neuroscience?

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Answer

Functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Show question

Question

__________ combines brain activity and behaviour analysis to understand human cognition using brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Show answer

Answer

Cognitive neuroscience.

Show question

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