Clever Grades

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THE COGNITIVE APPROACH

Core Definition

Focus on Mental Processes

The cognitive approach focuses on mental processes such as thinking, memory, problem-solving, and language. It likens the mind to a computer that processes information.

Assumptions of the Approach

1

Internal Mental Processes Can Be Studied

Thought patterns influence behavior.
2

Computer Analogy

Input, processing, and output model explains cognition.
3

Schemas

Mental frameworks help organize knowledge.
4

Active Processing

People actively interpret information, not passively.
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Scientific Methods

Cognitive psychologists use experiments and brain imaging.

Relationship Formation

The cognitive approach explains relationships by the mental processes involved in attraction and maintenance.

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Social Cognition

How we perceive and interpret others matters. For example, if someone is viewed positively, attraction grows.
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Cognitive Schemas

Pre-existing ideas about relationships influence behavior (e.g., expectations about love).
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Attribution Theory

People attribute partner’s behavior either internally (personality) or externally (situation), affecting relationship satisfaction.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

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CBT Definition: CBT is a structured, time-limited therapy that addresses maladaptive thoughts to change behavior and emotions.

CBT Main Components

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Identifying Negative Thoughts

Identifying negative automatic thoughts.
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Challenging Distortions

Challenging and reframing cognitive distortions.
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Behavioral Experiments

Behavioral experiments to test new beliefs.
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Skill-Building

Homework and skill-building exercises.

Evaluation of CBT

Assessing the strengths and limitations of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

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Strengths & Effectiveness Strong empirical support for treating depression, anxiety. Collaborative approach respects patient autonomy. Clear, goal-oriented, and effective.
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Limitations May not suit all personality types or severities.

Evaluation of Cognitive Approach

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Strengths Scientific and testable. Bridges psychology and neuroscience. Influenced practical treatment developments.
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Weaknesses Reduced focus on emotion and motivation. Sometimes uses artificial laboratory tasks. Can be seen as mechanistic and ignoring context.

Comparative Analysis

How the Cognitive Approach differs from other major psychological schools.

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Differs from behaviourism by including mental processes.
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Is more scientific than psychodynamic.
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Unlike biological, emphasizes psychological rather than physical mechanisms.
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Unlike positive psychology, focuses mainly on problems, though CBT can foster well-being.

Classic Study: Bartlett’s War of the Ghosts (1932)

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Method & Procedure

Participants read a Native American folk tale and were asked to recall it multiple times. Stories were passed from person to person through recall.
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Findings

Recall distorted the story, fitting participants’ own cultural schemas.
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Conclusions

Memory is reconstructive, influenced by schemas.
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Social Implications

Has impacted understanding of eyewitness testimony reliability.
The Cognitive Approach Deck
Term
Focus of Cognitive Approach

What does the cognitive approach focus on?

Answer
Mental Processes

Mental processes such as thinking, memory, problem-solving, and language.

Term
Mind Analogy

What analogy is commonly used to describe the mind in the cognitive approach?

Answer
Computer Model

The mind is likened to a computer that processes information.

Term
Schemas

What are schemas?

Answer
Mental Frameworks

Mental frameworks that help organize knowledge.

Term
Assumption about Internal Processes

What is the assumption about internal mental processes?

Answer
Studyable Influence

They can be studied because thought patterns influence behavior.

Term
Relationship Formation

How does the cognitive approach explain relationship formation?

Answer
Cognitive Theories

Through social cognition, cognitive schemas, and attribution theory.

Term
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Answer
Therapy Definition

A structured, time-limited therapy addressing maladaptive thoughts to change behavior and emotions.

Term
Main CBT Component

Name a main component of CBT.

Answer
Negative Thoughts

Identifying negative automatic thoughts.

Term
Bartlett’s War of the Ghosts Study

What did Bartlett’s War of the Ghosts study demonstrate?

Answer
Reconstructive Memory

Memory is reconstructive and influenced by cultural schemas.

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Strength of Cognitive Approach

What is one strength of the cognitive approach?

Answer
Scientific

It is scientific and testable.

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Weakness of Cognitive Approach

What is a weakness of the cognitive approach?

Answer
Limited Scope

It often ignores emotion and motivation.

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🧠 The Cognitive Approach Quiz

1. What mental processes does the cognitive approach focus on?

The cognitive approach centers on mental processes like thinking and memory, rather than emotional or behavioral responses.

2. Which of the following best describes the ‘computer analogy’ in cognitive psychology?

This analogy explains cognition as information-processing similar to computers.

3. What role do schemas play in the cognitive approach?

Schemas are mental frameworks that help us process and categorize new information.

4. Which therapy is associated with the cognitive approach?

CBT targets maladaptive thoughts to improve emotions and behavior.

5. Bartlett’s War of the Ghosts study concluded that:

Bartlett showed that people reshape recalled memories according to their own cultural knowledge.

📊 Results

  • Notes and Quiz
  • Psychology
  • AS & A Level
  • Schizophrenia Therapies
  • WJEC