1.2 The Cognitive Approach

2026 Syllabus Objectives

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

  • Describe the main assumptions of the cognitive approach
  • Explain the information processing model and the computer analogy
  • Describe the four key cognitive processes: attention, language, thinking, and memory
  • Describe the methodology used by cognitive psychologists
  • Explain the key issues and debates within the cognitive approach
  • Describe and evaluate the three core studies: Andrade (doodling), Baron-Cohen et al. (eyes test), and Pozzulo et al. (line-ups)

Main Content

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What Is the Cognitive Approach?

The cognitive approach is a way of explaining human behaviour by looking at what goes on inside the mind. Cognitive psychologists believe that our behaviour is shaped by our mental processes — things like thinking, remembering, paying attention, and using language.

The word cognitive simply means "to do with the mind or thinking."

The Information Processing Approach

Cognitive psychologists often use something called the information processing approach. This means they compare the human mind to a computer. Just like a computer, the mind:

  1. Receives input — information comes in through your senses (what you see, hear, smell, taste, touch)
  2. Processes the information — the brain works on it (thinks about it, filters it, stores it)
  3. Produces output — a response, such as saying something, moving, or making a decision

This is called the input → process → output model.

The Computer Analogy

The computer analogy is the idea that the human brain is like computer hardware (the physical parts) and the mind is like software (the programmes that run on it).

  • Just as a computer's basic hardware is built-in from the start, genes shape the basic structure of the human brain.
  • Just as you can install new software to teach a computer new things, humans can learn new skills through experience (e.g. learning to play a musical instrument or practising mindfulness).

⚠️ Limitation: Many scientists argue this comparison is too simple. The human mind is far more complex, flexible, and "alive" than any computer. Studying the brain and mind directly is more useful than drawing comparisons to a machine.

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