Cognitive Approach in AP Psychology

Definition

The cognitive approach in psychology is a way of understanding human behavior that focuses on how we think. It suggests that our thought processes affect the way we behave.

Related terms

Schema:

These are mental concepts or frameworks that help us organize and interpret information. They're like the folders in your computer where you store related files.

Cognitive Dissonance:

This is the mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or perceptions at the same time. It's like trying to run two incompatible software programs on your computer simultaneously - it just doesn't work smoothly!

Perception:

This is the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events. It's like when your computer takes raw data and turns it into an image on your screen.