The Cognitive Approach
The cognitive approach looks not just at what happens to a person and how they react, but also at the mediating processes in between, such as thoughts and beliefs.
Beck (1976) described how cognitive errors can have emotional and behavioural consequences. For example, over-generalisation means taking one event (such as falling out with a friend) and assuming it applies to all situations ('nobody likes me'). An anorexic person's cognitive error is the belief that they are overweight, which then leads to excessive dieting. Beck (1976) states that depressed people have a cognitive triad of negative thoughts about themselves, the world and the future. These beliefs must be tackled in order to change a person's mood or behaviour.
Evaluation points are the the cognitive approach is hugely influential, and its models of thought processes have influenced therapy and treatment methods. Also, the approach is supported by research findings which show that thought processes are not always logical.
The main areas of study in cognitive psychology are:
- Perception (how we process images and sounds)
- Thinking (ideas, beliefs and schemas)
- Memory (retention, remembering, forgetting)
Cognitive psychology uses a lot of experiments and tends to research on humans, not animals.
Cognitive Perspective: Assumptions
Assumption 1
Our behaviour is best explained in terms of internal mental processes ie. mediational processes between stimulus and response.
Illustration of assumption 1
- Behaviourist psychologists thought that language could be explained through conditioning.
- However, linguistics researcher Chomsky (1957) stated infants use 'metal rules' such as 'add -ed to make a past tense'.
Assumption 2
The processes in the mind operate like a computer ("information processing approach") ie. inputing, storing and retrieving data- Broadbent (1958).
Illustration of assumption 2
- The multi-store model treats memory as a series of stores.
- However, artificial intelligence has proved illusive.
Assumption 3
Our thought processes and beliefs (rather than genetic factors) affect how we perceive and respond to the world. To change behaviour. thinking patterns need to be changed.
Illustration of assumption 3
- Illusions
- A-B-C model
Implications of theory
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
A client/patient works with a psychotherapist in a structured way, attending a limited number of sessions. This challenges irrational or negative thinking.
CBT techniques
- Agenda setting- Client and therapist work together at start to agree task schedule.
- Cognitive restructuring- replacing distortions with thoughts that are more accurate and useful
- Reframing- situations re-interpreted more rationally (positively)
- Homework- client is set tasks to do e.g. worksheets, diary or activities
CBT tackles irrational thinking
- Mind reading- jumping to conclusions about what others may be thinking of you.
- Catastrophising- magnifying/labelling patterns
- Overgeneralising- thinking that things always or never happen a certain way.
- Unfair judgements- continually putting yourself down/holding yourself responsible.
- Making demands- fixed, rigid rules using 'should' or 'must' statements; perfectionism.
Very good summary. Nice to see a clear link made between the approach and CBT. Ultimately CBT tries to change thoughts, behaviours and beliefs. Depending on the problem being treated, there may be a large emphasis on beliefs, or it may be more about treating the behaviour (e.g. with a phobia or eating disorder). An example of Ellis's ABC model would be good, but otherwise very thorough! Ellis said: "We teach people that they upset themselves. We can't change the past, so we change how people are thinking, feeling and behaving today."
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