Cognitive area
The most dominant way to approach modern psychology because the behaviourist
perspective could no longer be ignored. They studied the ‘black box’ theory but now we
know a lot of our behaviour is effected by mental events as well as physical.
Key concepts:
The computer metaphor- at the heart of this area is the belief that we can study
human mind by comparing it to the process of machines. This brings up modern
questions of what it means to be alive. Can a computer think? Can it be aware? Can
it have theory of mind?
Matching with the results from neuroscience- this area is based on models of how
we think and perceive the world. They often uses diagrams of boxes and the big
question is whether these boxes can be matched to structures of the brain
Experimentation- the main method that was used in the laboratory was
introspection which is a form of self-observation.
Relevance to everyday life- many experiments on this area are carried out in labs so
poses the question of whether this relates to everyday life. The cognitive area mainly
deals with abstract tasks in unreal situations.
Similarities:
Social- both use laboratory conditions and high control (Milgram, Loftus and Palmer)
Developmental- both use small, unrepresentative samples (Bandura, Moray)
Biological- both use laboratory conditions and high control (Moray, Sperry)
Individual differences- both have practical applications to help making them useful
(Baron-Cohen, Loftus and Palmer)
Differences:
Cognitive focuses more on individual factors (internal mental processes, Loftus and
Palmer) but social focuses more on situational factors (other people, Milgram)
Developmental area is more likely to use longitudinal research (Kohlberg) but
cognitive uses snapshot research (Grant)
Biological is more reductionist as it explains behaviour in terms of biological
structures (Casey) but cognitive focuses on mental processes which are a higher level
of explanation (Moray)
Cognitive has shown thoughts can be changed by the situation (Grant) but I.D would
suggest that thoughts are based on individual factors like disorders (Baron-Cohen)
Strengths:
It lends itself to experimental research (Loftus and Palmer) which enables cause and
effect conclusions to be drawn
Research can be well controlled creating high internal validity (Grant) as procedures
are standardised enabling easy replication to confirm the results.
Weaknesses:
The most dominant way to approach modern psychology because the behaviourist
perspective could no longer be ignored. They studied the ‘black box’ theory but now we
know a lot of our behaviour is effected by mental events as well as physical.
Key concepts:
The computer metaphor- at the heart of this area is the belief that we can study
human mind by comparing it to the process of machines. This brings up modern
questions of what it means to be alive. Can a computer think? Can it be aware? Can
it have theory of mind?
Matching with the results from neuroscience- this area is based on models of how
we think and perceive the world. They often uses diagrams of boxes and the big
question is whether these boxes can be matched to structures of the brain
Experimentation- the main method that was used in the laboratory was
introspection which is a form of self-observation.
Relevance to everyday life- many experiments on this area are carried out in labs so
poses the question of whether this relates to everyday life. The cognitive area mainly
deals with abstract tasks in unreal situations.
Similarities:
Social- both use laboratory conditions and high control (Milgram, Loftus and Palmer)
Developmental- both use small, unrepresentative samples (Bandura, Moray)
Biological- both use laboratory conditions and high control (Moray, Sperry)
Individual differences- both have practical applications to help making them useful
(Baron-Cohen, Loftus and Palmer)
Differences:
Cognitive focuses more on individual factors (internal mental processes, Loftus and
Palmer) but social focuses more on situational factors (other people, Milgram)
Developmental area is more likely to use longitudinal research (Kohlberg) but
cognitive uses snapshot research (Grant)
Biological is more reductionist as it explains behaviour in terms of biological
structures (Casey) but cognitive focuses on mental processes which are a higher level
of explanation (Moray)
Cognitive has shown thoughts can be changed by the situation (Grant) but I.D would
suggest that thoughts are based on individual factors like disorders (Baron-Cohen)
Strengths:
It lends itself to experimental research (Loftus and Palmer) which enables cause and
effect conclusions to be drawn
Research can be well controlled creating high internal validity (Grant) as procedures
are standardised enabling easy replication to confirm the results.
Weaknesses:
