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Cognitive Approach

The cognitive approach studies internal mental processes like thinking and how people process external stimuli. It posits that people have schemas or internal frameworks formed by experiences that influence thinking. The cognitive approach also uses the computer as a model for the brain, with inputs, processing, and outputs, but this may reduce the human experience. The cognitive approach has scientific rigor and real-life applications, but sometimes relies on theoretical constructs and lacks external validity due to artificial laboratory studies.

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Poorva Kasture
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13 views1 page

Cognitive Approach

The cognitive approach studies internal mental processes like thinking and how people process external stimuli. It posits that people have schemas or internal frameworks formed by experiences that influence thinking. The cognitive approach also uses the computer as a model for the brain, with inputs, processing, and outputs, but this may reduce the human experience. The cognitive approach has scientific rigor and real-life applications, but sometimes relies on theoretical constructs and lacks external validity due to artificial laboratory studies.

Uploaded by

Poorva Kasture
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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“Discuss the cognitive approach in psychology”

The cognitive approach is the idea of studying internal mental processes to examine how we think
and process external stimuli. This can be done in several ways. For instance, inference can be used,
which is when educated assumptions are made about a certain stimulus or idea. Additionally, the
cognitive approach may describe that each person has a schema, which is an internal framework of
beliefs and ideas that may affect mental processing. This may also develop over time through
experiences. A schema may be extremely helpful in real life, as it can help process stimuli quickly
without getting overwhelmed. However, a schema could potentially be distorted through the wrong
experiences for instance, which can lead to perceptual errors.

Additionally, the cognitive approach describes the human brain using the computer model. For
instance, both have inputs, a processing ‘buffer’ and an output, or both also have different areas
working on different tasks that need to be completed, for instance, the CPU acting as the ‘central
executive’ as described in the working memory model. However, a negative side of this model is that
it is machine reductionist. This is because some parts of the computer model may not be as
applicable to the human brain, as computers cannot experience emotion or motivation, which can
influence behavior in humans. As a result, the cognitive approach may decrease in validity.

A strength of the cognitive approach is that it has scientific rigor. For example, many studies
examining the cognitive approach have been carried out in a laboratory, meaning that extraneous
variables were more likely to be controlled, therefore leading to high internal validity. In addition,
advancements in cognitive neuroscience have led to the use of fMRIs which physically shows that
thought processes are carried out in different areas of the brain- e.g. either sides of the prefrontal
cortex show storage of long term memory. As a result, this shows that the cognitive approach is
empirical and scientifically credible.

However, the cognitive approach relies on studying internal processes, that may not always be visible
through direct behavior, making the model sometimes much more theoretical and abstract.
Additionally, many lab studies are carried out in artificial environments, which may not recreate real
life situations perfectly. As a result, it may lack external validity.

A further strength of this model is that it has real life applications in the fields of law and Artificial
Intelligence. For instance, the use of the cognitive interview can help improve accuracy of eyewitness
testimonies, which can help bring justice. Additionally, it can help with the enhancement of AI
models, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy for depression. This shows that the cognitive
approach is a valuable tool for use in advancements in society, as well as applicable in real life
scenarios.

In conclusion, the cognitive approach involves the study of how internal mental processes can
influence behavior. However, we could consider its reductionist views. For instance, not taking into
the past experiences of a person and internalization of behavior. This may show that the cognitive
approach may not be holistic.

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