Cognitive psychologists focus mainly on the internal mental processes like memory. Interest is taken in how individuals can learn to solve problem and the mental processes that exist between stimulus and response. A certain model of this is the information processing approach.
The information processing approach can be compared to a computer in terms of the mind the software and the brain being the hardware, this is just like a computer. As individuals we encode information, store or transform information also like a computer.
Information-processing model we can assume is used to explain much everyday behaviour. For example playing a game of football, Jaime perceives the ball hi heading towards his head (encoding). He decided to header the football (decision-making). Jaime header the ball into the net, scoring a point for his team (output).Progressing from the 80’s there has been a growing interest in both computational and connectionist models to explain human mental processing.
Another model is the computational and connectionist, this method still uses the computer analogy to explain mental processes. Although the emphasis now is greatly to do with the use of simulations to study how human intelligence is structured, that’s what’s involved when information is processed rather than when and how much information is processed. The computational model seeks to explain how our cognitive system operates in terms of goals, plans and actions in completing tasks. The connectionist model use neural analogy unlike the computational method. This is the concept that the minds made up of a huge array of neurons/ nodes and that the connections between the neurons form an activating pattern which represents a meaningful, or learnt association between two or more environmental stimuli.
With the cognitive approach there are strengths and witnesses, in which influence the use of this approach in psychology.
The cognitive approach focuses on the internal mental processes unlike the behaviourist approach which focuses more on the actions individuals. This is an advantage because it emphasis on the workings of our brain during tasks especially.
The approach also uses scientifically experimental methods, this is a great advantage because it allows this approach to be taken more seriously and influenced in scientific matters due to especially the techniques used. This is opposite to the humanistic approach which uses predictive power, lacking scientist methods.
Models like eh information processing approach have been used to explain the mental; processing, this has helped explain metal processes, unlike other approached this isn’t based on assumptions and observation, also making this approach an advantage.
This approach has been described as downgrading and undermines the complexities of the human mind, by comparing and portraying it as a computer. This is a big disadvantage due to its failure at seeing the intricacy of the mind, somewhat making the approach seem crude and simple.
Many of the cognitive theories are from artificial laboratory theories, meaning there from computer systems or programs which mimic cognitive functioning. This is a big disadvantage because it just makes assumptions about individual and doesn’t take in account of the everyday behaviours.