IB Psychology Revision

Cognitive Approach

Models of memory, schema theory, thinking and decision-making, and reliability of memory.

Cognitive Approach is a core part of IB Psychology. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.

Key concepts

MSMAtkinson & Shiffrin 1968 — three stores
Sensory memoryBrief raw store (Sperling 1960)
STMShort-term ~7 items, ~30 sec
LTMLong-term — unlimited capacity
Working memoryBaddeley & Hitch 1974 active model
Central executiveControls attention; allocates slaves
SchemaMental framework organising information
Bartlett 1932War of the Ghosts; reconstructive memory
AssimilationFitting new info to existing schema
Reconstructive memoryRecall rebuilds, not replays
Leading questionWording biases recall
Loftus & Palmer 1974Verb 'smashed' raised speed estimate
System 1Fast, automatic, intuitive thinking
System 2Slow, deliberate, effortful thinking

Common mistakes to avoid

Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:

What does the behaviourist approach study?✗ The unconscious mind and dreams.   ✓ Observable behaviour and how it is learned.
Do all psychological approaches explain behaviour the same way?✗ Yes, all approaches agree on causes.   ✓ No — they differ (e.g. behaviourist, cognitive, biological, psychodynamic).

Practise Cognitive Approach — free games

Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic:

▶ Two Truths, One Lie▶ Reveal Race▶ Connections Grid▶ Falling Words▶ Word Web

See all 17 games in the Subjects Arcade →

More IB Psychology topics

Biological ApproachSociocultural ApproachResearch MethodsOptions

← All revision guides

Want to revise every topic this smart?

The Velvet Method teaches you to use AI to revise any subject — £25, lifetime access.

Explore the Course →