Cognitive Approach
❖ Assumptions (Computer Analogy, Internal mental processes,Schemas)
❖ Therapy (Link to Assumptions, components of CBT, evaluation of effectiveness,
evaluation of ethics)
❖ Classic research (Methodology/procedure, results, evaluation, social and ethical
implications)
❖ Debate (Eyewitness testimony, leading questions, the role of emotion, reliability of
children, overall evaluation/conclusion)
❖ Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach (Strengths and weaknesses)
Assumptions
Assumption: Behaviour can be explained by computer analogy
Using an example from psychology, describe the cognitive assumption of the
computer analogy. [4]
One assumption of the cognitive approach is the computer analogy. Cognitive psychologists
suggest that the human mind works in a similar way to a computer. A computer will receive an
input, process it, and then output. The human mind works in a similar manner. Our senses work
as an input, information is then stored and then retrieved when needed.
Atkinson and Shiffrin devised the multi-store model of memory. They suggested that there are
3 stores of memory. The first store is sensory memory, This lasts for a fraction of a second and
involves input from many senses. If you pay attention to the input, the information is stored in
the short-term memory if it’s interesting. This lasts for around 30 seconds. Rehearsing this
information will lead to it being stored in long-term memory. If information is needed, then it’s
retrieved from long-term memory.
Explain how a psychologist could apply the assumption of computer
analogy to understanding human behaviour. [5]
Cognitive psychologists suggest that the human mind works in a similar way to a computer. A
computer will receive an input, process it, and then output. The human mind works in a similar
manner. Our senses work as an input, information is then stored and then retrieved when
needed.
The computer analogy can be applied to Schizophrenia. Frith proposed that positive symptoms
can be explained by difficulties inhibiting preconscious content. Normally, our senses receive a
lot of information from our environment, this info reaches our awareness and we interpret it in
our preconscious. The ‘best fit’ of the info gets pushed into our consciousness, allowing us to
make sense of it. BUT, schizophrenics are unable to filter out non-pertinent information and
have the inability to focus.
, Assumption: Behaviour can be explained by internal mental processes
Using examples from psychology, describe the cognitive assumption of
internal mental processes. [4]
One assumption of the cognitive approach is internal mental processes. This suggests that
humans use cognitive processes to make sense of the world around them. Cognitive
psychologists suggest that we use our senses to collect information and then we use internal
mental processes to interpret this information. Examples are memory, attention, language etc.
These processes all work together and occur quickly. One example is introspection.
Psychologists use introspection, this is when a participant describes how a task makes them
feel. Griffiths asked participants to use introspection when playing on a fruit machine, he was
keen in the processes that gamblers and non-gamblers made. They were asked to ‘think-aloud’
and found that regular gamblers made more irrational verbalisations.
Explain how a psychologist could apply the assumption of internal mental
processes to understanding human behaviour. [5]
One assumption of the cognitive approach is internal mental processes. This suggests that
humans use cognitive processes to make sense of the world around them. Cognitive
psychologists suggest that we use our senses to collect information and then we use internal
mental processes to interpret this information. Examples are memory, attention, language etc.
These processes all work together and occur quickly. This can be applied to addiction.
Psychologists use introspection, this is when a participant describes how a task makes them
feel. Griffiths asked participants to use introspection when playing on a fruit machine, he was
keen in the processes that gamblers and non-gamblers made. They were asked to ‘think-aloud’
and found that regular gamblers made more irrational verbalisations.
Assumption: Behaviour can be explained by schemas
Using examples from psychology, describe the cognitive assumption of
schemas. [4]
One assumption of the cognitive approach is schemas. Schemas can be described as packets
of information, they are how our mind stores information in long term memory. Schemas can
change with experience, if you learn a new fact, then your schema will adapt.
One example is the halo effect.
The halo effect suggests that if our schema for an individual contains positive impressions,
then we will believe they will have other positive characteristics. Dion et al found that individuals
who were judged to be attractive were also judged to be more competent romantic partners etc.
Therefore, the schema assumption would suggest we may enter romantic relationships with
other people we find attractive as we also believe they have other positive characteristics.
Explain how a psychologist could apply the cognitive assumption of
schemas to understanding human behaviour. [5]
❖ Assumptions (Computer Analogy, Internal mental processes,Schemas)
❖ Therapy (Link to Assumptions, components of CBT, evaluation of effectiveness,
evaluation of ethics)
❖ Classic research (Methodology/procedure, results, evaluation, social and ethical
implications)
❖ Debate (Eyewitness testimony, leading questions, the role of emotion, reliability of
children, overall evaluation/conclusion)
❖ Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach (Strengths and weaknesses)
Assumptions
Assumption: Behaviour can be explained by computer analogy
Using an example from psychology, describe the cognitive assumption of the
computer analogy. [4]
One assumption of the cognitive approach is the computer analogy. Cognitive psychologists
suggest that the human mind works in a similar way to a computer. A computer will receive an
input, process it, and then output. The human mind works in a similar manner. Our senses work
as an input, information is then stored and then retrieved when needed.
Atkinson and Shiffrin devised the multi-store model of memory. They suggested that there are
3 stores of memory. The first store is sensory memory, This lasts for a fraction of a second and
involves input from many senses. If you pay attention to the input, the information is stored in
the short-term memory if it’s interesting. This lasts for around 30 seconds. Rehearsing this
information will lead to it being stored in long-term memory. If information is needed, then it’s
retrieved from long-term memory.
Explain how a psychologist could apply the assumption of computer
analogy to understanding human behaviour. [5]
Cognitive psychologists suggest that the human mind works in a similar way to a computer. A
computer will receive an input, process it, and then output. The human mind works in a similar
manner. Our senses work as an input, information is then stored and then retrieved when
needed.
The computer analogy can be applied to Schizophrenia. Frith proposed that positive symptoms
can be explained by difficulties inhibiting preconscious content. Normally, our senses receive a
lot of information from our environment, this info reaches our awareness and we interpret it in
our preconscious. The ‘best fit’ of the info gets pushed into our consciousness, allowing us to
make sense of it. BUT, schizophrenics are unable to filter out non-pertinent information and
have the inability to focus.
, Assumption: Behaviour can be explained by internal mental processes
Using examples from psychology, describe the cognitive assumption of
internal mental processes. [4]
One assumption of the cognitive approach is internal mental processes. This suggests that
humans use cognitive processes to make sense of the world around them. Cognitive
psychologists suggest that we use our senses to collect information and then we use internal
mental processes to interpret this information. Examples are memory, attention, language etc.
These processes all work together and occur quickly. One example is introspection.
Psychologists use introspection, this is when a participant describes how a task makes them
feel. Griffiths asked participants to use introspection when playing on a fruit machine, he was
keen in the processes that gamblers and non-gamblers made. They were asked to ‘think-aloud’
and found that regular gamblers made more irrational verbalisations.
Explain how a psychologist could apply the assumption of internal mental
processes to understanding human behaviour. [5]
One assumption of the cognitive approach is internal mental processes. This suggests that
humans use cognitive processes to make sense of the world around them. Cognitive
psychologists suggest that we use our senses to collect information and then we use internal
mental processes to interpret this information. Examples are memory, attention, language etc.
These processes all work together and occur quickly. This can be applied to addiction.
Psychologists use introspection, this is when a participant describes how a task makes them
feel. Griffiths asked participants to use introspection when playing on a fruit machine, he was
keen in the processes that gamblers and non-gamblers made. They were asked to ‘think-aloud’
and found that regular gamblers made more irrational verbalisations.
Assumption: Behaviour can be explained by schemas
Using examples from psychology, describe the cognitive assumption of
schemas. [4]
One assumption of the cognitive approach is schemas. Schemas can be described as packets
of information, they are how our mind stores information in long term memory. Schemas can
change with experience, if you learn a new fact, then your schema will adapt.
One example is the halo effect.
The halo effect suggests that if our schema for an individual contains positive impressions,
then we will believe they will have other positive characteristics. Dion et al found that individuals
who were judged to be attractive were also judged to be more competent romantic partners etc.
Therefore, the schema assumption would suggest we may enter romantic relationships with
other people we find attractive as we also believe they have other positive characteristics.
Explain how a psychologist could apply the cognitive assumption of
schemas to understanding human behaviour. [5]
