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Cognitive Approach: Strengths and Weaknesses

There are several different approaches to the study of psychology: psychodynamic, cognitive, biological, and learning.

Strength - specific mental processes

Strength - specific mental processes

  • Many of the other approaches overlook the specific mental processes that happen during learning.
  • The cognitive approach examines these.
    • For example, the multi-store model of memory examines the specific roles of each type of memory store.
Strength - development of therapies

Strength - development of therapies

  • As with the psychodynamic approach, therapies based on the cognitive approach have been developed.
  • Cognitive behaviour therapy allows patients to examine their thinking (cognition) to alter their behaviour.
  • This makes this approach useful and applicable.
Weakness - lacking ecological validity

Weakness - lacking ecological validity

  • As many of the experiments take place in a laboratory setting, they lack ecological validity.
  • In other words, the settings are highly artificial (like computer models) so may not apply to real life situations.
Weakness - differences

Weakness - differences

  • The cognitive approach has a failure because it does not take into account individual differences in cognition.
  • People may differ in their mental processes.
Jump to other topics
1

Social Influence

2

Memory

3

Attachment

4

(2026 Exams) Psychopathology

5

(2027 Exams) Clinical Psychology & Mental Health

6

Approaches in Psychology

7

Biopsychology

8

Research Methods

8.1

Research Methods

8.2

Scientific Processes

8.3

Data Handling & Analysis

8.4

Inferential Testing

9

Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

10

Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10.1

Relationships: Sexual Relationships (A2 only)

10.2

Relationships: Romantic Relationships (A2 only)

10.3

(2026 Exams) Relationships: Virtual (A2 only)

10.4

(2027 Exams) Relationships: Online (A2 only)

11

Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

12

Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

13

Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

14

Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

15

Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

16

Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

17

Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

18

Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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