BTEC Level 3 Applied Psychology in 60(ish!) Seconds: The Cognitive Approach

Summary

The cognitive approach in psychology explores how internal mental processes, such as memory, thinking, and problem-solving, influence behavior. It compares the brain to a computer and includes key concepts like reconstructive memory, cognitive priming, and cognitive biases. Studies supporting this approach include the War of the Ghosts by Bartlett and Loftus and Palmer's work on memory reconstruction. The approach is applied to various behaviors, including aggression and consumer behavior, with advertisers using cognitive principles to influence brand loyalty. Gender schema theory also plays a role in how individuals interpret the world, especially in terms of gender-related information.

Takeaways

• 😀 The cognitive approach in psychology focuses on understanding behavior through internal mental processes like memory, thinking, and problem-solving.
• 😀 It compares the brain to a computer, suggesting that behavior can be explained by how we process and store information.
• 😀 Key concepts of the cognitive approach include reconstructive memory, cognitive priming, and cognitive biases.
• 😀 Studies supporting the cognitive approach include 'War of the Ghosts' by Bartlett and research on food advertising by Harris, Bart, and Brownell.
• 😀 The cognitive approach also addresses how external stimuli, like media violence, can prime aggressive behavior and influence our reactions.
• 😀 Hostile attribution bias, where individuals interpret neutral actions as hostile, is another factor influencing aggression in the cognitive approach.
• 😀 Gender schema theory explains how we store and process information related to gender, influencing our perceptions and behavior.
• 😀 The significance of gender schema varies for individuals, affecting how much weight they place on gender when interpreting others' behavior.
• 😀 Advertisers use the cognitive approach to prime consumers, influencing their associations with brands through cognitive processes like priming and memory.
• 😀 Cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, make it easier for brands to build loyalty but harder to change consumers' opinions once they're formed.

Q & A

What is the cognitive approach in psychology?

The cognitive approach in psychology focuses on understanding behavior through internal mental processes such as memory, thinking, and problem-solving. It views the brain as similar to a computer, processing information and making decisions.

How does the cognitive approach explain behavior?

The cognitive approach explains behavior by examining the mental processes behind it, such as how we store and retrieve memories, how we think, and how we solve problems. It assumes these internal processes influence our actions and reactions.

What are some key concepts of the cognitive approach?

Key concepts of the cognitive approach include reconstructive memory, cognitive priming, and cognitive biases. These concepts focus on how we recall memories, how external stimuli can influence our thoughts and behavior, and how biases affect our decision-making.

Can you name some studies that support the cognitive approach?

Studies supporting the cognitive approach include 'War of the Ghosts' by Bartlett, an investigation into food advertising and snacking by Harris, Bart, and Brownwell, and the reconstruction of automobile destruction by Loftus and Palmer.

What role does the cognitive approach play in understanding aggression?

The cognitive approach suggests that aggression can be influenced by cognitive priming (e.g., exposure to violence in the media) and hostile attribution bias, where individuals may interpret neutral or ambiguous stimuli as threatening and respond aggressively.

How does gender schema relate to the cognitive approach?

Gender schema refers to the mental structures we use to store and interpret information about gender. The cognitive approach suggests that gender schema helps individuals understand and categorize the world, influencing how they interpret others' behavior based on gender.

Why is the cognitive approach popular among advertisers?

Advertisers use the cognitive approach to influence consumers' schemas, forming associations between brands and various stimuli. Techniques like priming are used to make certain thoughts and ideas more accessible, enhancing brand recognition and loyalty.

What is cognitive priming and how does it work in advertising?

Cognitive priming is a technique used in advertising to trigger associations between a brand and specific ideas or feelings. It makes certain thoughts more accessible to the consumer, increasing the likelihood that they will recall those thoughts when making purchasing decisions.

How do cognitive biases affect consumer behavior?

Cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, influence consumer behavior by making people more likely to focus on information that confirms their existing beliefs or opinions about a brand. This helps build brand loyalty but makes it hard for brands to change consumers' negative perceptions once formed.

What is the significance of hostile attribution bias in the context of aggression?

Hostile attribution bias occurs when individuals interpret others' actions or neutral stimuli as hostile or threatening. This bias can lead to aggressive responses, as individuals may overreact to perceived provocations based on their biased interpretation.