Outline one assumption of the cognitive approach.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [2] Information processing is the same for all humans, like a computer: input then process then output information.
2. People have individual differences in the way they cognitively process information based on attention/memory/language (need 2 of the processes named).
3. [1] The AS/HFA group scored significantly lower on the Eyes Test (compared to the other three groups).
4. [1] This shows that differences between the groups can be explained by individuals' cognitions/thinking processes, in this case, Theory of Mind (1 mark). This clearly shows that people in the AS/HFA group, when it came to emotions, inputted information but found it difficult to process it (alternative 1 mark).
5. [2] All participants were shown a pair of eyes (input), they then had to process that in order to assess the emotion shown (process) and then choose the correct emotion from the four options (output) (2 marks as examples are integral).