INTRODUCING COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
The Cognitive Approach in Psychology became influential in the 1960s and ‘70s. Cognitive researchers began studying the processes of the mind rather than external human behaviour. To do this, they developed ingenious tests and carried out lab experiments to identify and manipulate perception and memory. The worked on the assumption that the human mind is an information processor, like a computer (this is called the “computer analogy”) – information is inputted into the mind, processed, and then there is output in the form of memories, beliefs or decisions. This was termed the “Cognitive Revolution” in Psychology.
Cognitive Psychology covers all sorts of mental processes, such as perception (including optical illusions), problem-solving and personality. However, in the Edexcel Specification we shall only be looking at one aspect of Cognitive Psychology: memory.
The Edexcel Specification expects you to be able to (AO1) know and understand, (AO2) apply, (AO3) analyse and evaluate the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|