The Cognitive Approach: How We Think, Feel, and Behave

The cognitive approach in psychology is all about understanding how our minds work. It focuses on how we think, process information, and use our memories to shape our feelings, behaviors, and understanding of the world. Think of your mind as a powerful computer, processing information constantly.

Key Concepts of the Cognitive Approach

Here are some key concepts of the cognitive approach:

1. Mental Processes

This approach emphasizes how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by our internal mental processes. These processes include:

• Perception: How we interpret the world around us, like recognizing your friend's face in a crowded room.
• Attention: What we focus on, like being fully engaged in a conversation or zoning out during a boring lecture.
• Memory: How we store and retrieve information, like remembering your best friend's birthday or forgetting where you put your keys.
• Language: How we use and understand words, like learning a new language or understanding a complex argument.
• Problem-solving: How we approach challenges and find solutions, like figuring out the best route to a new restaurant or solving a math problem.

2. Schema

Imagine your mind is full of organized knowledge structures, like folders in a computer. These are called schemas. They help us make sense of the world by providing framework for interpreting new information.

Example: The "restaurant schema" includes information about what to expect at a restaurant (menus, waiters, food), how to behave (ordering, paying), and what a typical dining experience looks like. This schema helps you navigate a new restaurant with ease.

3. Cognitive Models

Psychologists use models to explain how mental processes work. These are simplified representations of the mind, like roadmaps that help us understand the complex pathways of information processing.

Example: The "multi-store model of memory" explains how information is transferred from short-term to long-term memory through different stages. It's like a series of interconnected rooms where information is processed and stored.

4. Cognitive Therapy

This is a type of therapy that helps people change their negative thoughts and beliefs. It emphasizes the role of thoughts in shaping feelings and behaviors.

Example: If you're feeling anxious about a test, a cognitive therapist might help you identify and challenge negative thoughts like "I'm going to fail" by replacing them with more realistic ones like "I've prepared well and I'm capable of doing well."

The Cognitive Approach and Doodling

Some research suggests that doodling can actually improve attention and memory. This is based on the idea that doodling can help us engage in "distracted thinking," where we use a simple task like doodling to keep our minds occupied while simultaneously processing other information. This can free up working memory capacity, allowing us to better focus on the task at hand.

Imagine this: You're taking notes in a boring lecture. You start doodling, which keeps your mind engaged without fully distracting you from the lecture. This allows you to better process the information and remember it later.

The cognitive approach is a fascinating area of psychology, helping us understand how our minds work and how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. It offers practical strategies for improving our cognitive skills and overcoming challenges.