Cognitive Psychology supports the idea that if we want to understand how people work, we need to understand their mind’s internal processes (McLeod, 2007). Human behaviour, according to cognitive psychologists, results from information processing. Thus, they are comparing the mind and the computer (Sammons, 2014). They are similar in that they both have memory stores, in-and outputs and both can only process a limited amount of information at a time (Sammons, 2014). Just like a computer, a person’s behaviour is determined by (1) available information provided by their environment; (2) the way in which they process this information; and (3) the inherent capacities they have for processing this information (Sammons, 2014). Cognitive psychologists …show more content…
The cognitive approach deals with the shortcomings of the social learning and behaviourist approaches regarding internal processes all because of the computer metaphor (Sammons, 2014).
The transactional model states that an individual responds to a stressor through primary appraisal (the stressor is viewed as a threat, or as a challenge) and secondary appraisal (the individual considers whether he/she has appropriate coping resources to handle the stressor) (Roesch, Weiner, & Vaughn, 2002). Studies propose that negative appraisals (seeing the stressor as a threat) can lead to negative psychological adjustment, whereas positive appraisals (seeing stressors as challenges) are linked to positive psychological adjustment (Roesch, Weiner, & Vaughn, 2002).
As people age their cognitive abilities decline (Deary, et al., 2009). From as early as early adulthood, mental functions such as memory, processing speed, executive functions, and reasoning show some form of decline and the impact of age on cognition is becoming a large problem for current research but is ignored by many scientists (Deary, et al.,