The Cognitive Approach: Core Assumptions
Ever wondered how your brain processes the massive amount of information you encounter every day? The cognitive approach treats your mind like a sophisticated computer system that deserves serious scientific study.
The key assumption here is that internal mental processes - like memory, perception, and thinking - can be studied scientifically even though we can't directly observe them. Since these processes are 'private', psychologists make inferences about what's happening in your mind based on your behaviour and responses.
Schemas are your brain's filing system - mental frameworks that help you organise and interpret information based on past experiences. You've got schemas for everything from what aliens look like (probably green with big eyes!) to how to behave in a restaurant. Babies are born with basic motor schemas for essential survival behaviours like sucking and grasping.
Quick Tip: Think of schemas as your brain's shortcuts - they help you process information quickly but can sometimes lead to stereotypes or assumptions.
The approach uses both theoretical models (abstract ideas about how the mind works) and computer models (actual programmes that try to mimic human thinking). This information processing approach sees your mind as working in stages: input → storage → retrieval, just like a computer.
