THE COGNITIVE APPROACH BY FLYNN, MARIA AND ADDIE

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE APPROACH? Typically cognitive psychologists use the laboratory experiment to study behavior. This is because the cognitive approach is a scientific one. The start of the use of computers allowed psychologists to try to understand the complexities of human cognition by comparing it with something simpler and better understood i.e. an artificial system such as a computer. Cognitive psychology has influenced and integrated with many other approaches and areas of study to produce, for example, social learning theory, cognitive neuropsychology and artificial intelligence (AI). The behaviorists approach only studies external observable (stimulus and response) behavior which can be objectively measured, while the cognitive approach believes that internal mental behavior can be scientifically studied using experiments.

STRENGHTS OF THE COGNITIVE APPROACH 1. The cognitive approach takes a middle ground in the nature-nurture debate. This is a strength as it recognizes both sides of the argument, on one hand it acknowledges that there could be innate thought processes that are important for development and on the other it considers the role of our environment shaping us. 2. This approach also takes a middle ground on the holism and reductionism debate. This is a strength as it supports experimental reductionism, where experiments are strictly controlled in order to isolate one variable for testing. However cognitive psychologists also look at the context of the their experiments. This consequently makes them less artificial and less reductionist. 3. A further strength of the cognitive approach is that it is considered scientific. This means using labatory experiments which are controlled, replicable and reduce the chances of confounding variables. 4. Additionally it is highly applicable in various ways such as therapy and eye witness testimony. 5. Another strength is that it combines easily with the other approaches for example, behaviourism + cognitive = Social learning biology 6. Many empirical studies also support the cognitive theory giving it 7. another strength. For example KF supporting the WMM following a motor bike accident that damaged his short term memory.

COMMON CRITIQUES OF THE COGNITIVE APPROACH Can’t measure cognitive processes ~Cognitive processes should still be understood Ignores other factors like biology ~Actually works well with other approaches

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