Cognitive Approach to Psychology
Shane Galvin-061 AT-Applied Psychology Shane Galvin Class: 061/AT Applied Psychology Teacher: Carol Neenan Title: Psychological Perspective Word count: 3121
The Cognitive Approach to Psychology
Contents Page 1 - Contents Page 2 – Introduction Page 3 – History Page 4 – Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Science Page 6- Research methods i) iii) v) Reaction time Studies Eye Tracking Studies Psychophysics ii) iv) vi) Priming Studies Lateralisation Studies Single-Cell Studies
Page 8 – Memory Storage and Models Page 10 – Therapeutic Applications Page 11 – Evaluation Page 12 - Bibliography
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Shane Galvin-061 AT-Applied Psychology
The Cognitive Approach to Psychology
What is Cognitive Psychology? Literally, ‘Cognition’ means knowing, but in the greater framework of Psychology, Cognition is thinking, perceiving information, understanding, construction and presentation of an answer to a question. Essentially, cognition is a term for the use of our mental processes. “Cognitive Psychology is the study of higher mental processes such as attention, language use, memory, perception, problem solving, and thinking.” (Gerrig & Zimbardo., 2002) Cognitive Psychology uses scientific methods and scrutiny to develop a deeper understanding of the human mind, rather than the brain, a methodology perhaps adapted from Behaviourism, in which modern Cognitive Psychology holds its roots. Yet, unlike behaviourism, which only focuses on observable behaviour, Cognitive Psychology is also concerned with internal mental states.
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Shane Galvin-061 AT-Applied Psychology
History In 1932, Behaviourist Edward Tolman published his book “Purposive Behaviour in Animals and Men” In his works Tolman studied rats in a maze, in which food was placed at the end of the maze. In the initial phase of a test, the rat would not be hungry while first entering the maze; this would allow the rat to learn where the food would be and to associate a certain location with the prospect of food.
The Cognitive Approach to Psychology
Contents Page 1 - Contents Page 2 – Introduction Page 3 – History Page 4 – Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Science Page 6- Research methods i) iii) v) Reaction time Studies Eye Tracking Studies Psychophysics ii) iv) vi) Priming Studies Lateralisation Studies Single-Cell Studies
Page 8 – Memory Storage and Models Page 10 – Therapeutic Applications Page 11 – Evaluation Page 12 - Bibliography
1
Shane Galvin-061 AT-Applied Psychology
The Cognitive Approach to Psychology
What is Cognitive Psychology? Literally, ‘Cognition’ means knowing, but in the greater framework of Psychology, Cognition is thinking, perceiving information, understanding, construction and presentation of an answer to a question. Essentially, cognition is a term for the use of our mental processes. “Cognitive Psychology is the study of higher mental processes such as attention, language use, memory, perception, problem solving, and thinking.” (Gerrig & Zimbardo., 2002) Cognitive Psychology uses scientific methods and scrutiny to develop a deeper understanding of the human mind, rather than the brain, a methodology perhaps adapted from Behaviourism, in which modern Cognitive Psychology holds its roots. Yet, unlike behaviourism, which only focuses on observable behaviour, Cognitive Psychology is also concerned with internal mental states.
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Shane Galvin-061 AT-Applied Psychology
History In 1932, Behaviourist Edward Tolman published his book “Purposive Behaviour in Animals and Men” In his works Tolman studied rats in a maze, in which food was placed at the end of the maze. In the initial phase of a test, the rat would not be hungry while first entering the maze; this would allow the rat to learn where the food would be and to associate a certain location with the prospect of food.
Bibliography: Baddely, A. & Hitch, G., 1974. Working Memory. In: G. Bower, ed. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation: Advances in Research and Theory. New York: Academic Press, pp. 47-89. Gerrig, R. J. & Zimbardo., &. P. G., 2002. Glossary. [Online] Available at: http://www.apa.org/research/action/glossary.aspx [Accessed 14 November 2012]. Gross, R., 2010. Psychology The Science of Mind and Behaviour. 6th ed. London: HodderArnold. McLeod, S., 2007. Atkinson and Shiffrin | Multi Store Model of Memory.. [Online] Available at: http://www.simplypsychology.org/multi-store.html [Accessed 16 November 2012]. McLeod, S., 2007. http://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive.html. [Online] Available at: fromhttp://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-therapy.html [Accessed 10 November 2012]. McLeod, S., 2008. Simply Psychology, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. [Online] Available at: http://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-therapy.html [Accessed 12 November 2012]. Neisser, U., 1967. Cognitive Psychology. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts. Solso, R. L., Maclin, O. H. & Maclin, M. K., 2008. Cognitive Psychology. 8th ed. Boston: Pearson. Tulving, E. & Schacter, D. L., 1990. Priming and Human Memory Systems. Science, Volume 247, pp. 301-306. 12