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🤔cognitive psychology review

Herbert Simon

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Herbert Simon was an influential American psychologist, economist, and computer scientist known for his work on decision-making processes, problem-solving, and artificial intelligence. He played a crucial role in the development of cognitive psychology by challenging the behaviorist approach, emphasizing the importance of mental processes and internal states in understanding human behavior.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Herbert Simon was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1978 for his research on decision-making and organizational behavior.
  2. He introduced the concept of bounded rationality, highlighting that humans often operate within cognitive limits when making choices.
  3. Simon was a pioneer in artificial intelligence, contributing to the development of algorithms and computer models that simulate human problem-solving.
  4. His work laid the groundwork for understanding how humans think and reason, moving away from purely observable behaviors as emphasized in behaviorism.
  5. Simon argued that human cognition is complex and cannot be fully understood without considering internal mental processes.

Review Questions

  • How did Herbert Simon's ideas challenge the principles of behaviorism in psychology?
    • Herbert Simon challenged behaviorism by emphasizing the significance of internal mental processes in understanding human behavior. While behaviorism focused solely on observable actions and external stimuli, Simon argued that cognition plays a critical role in decision-making and problem-solving. His work highlighted how humans think, reason, and make choices based on their mental states, shifting the focus from mere behaviors to the underlying cognitive mechanisms.
  • Discuss the concept of bounded rationality and its implications for understanding decision-making according to Herbert Simon.
    • Bounded rationality is a concept introduced by Herbert Simon that suggests individuals have cognitive limitations when processing information and making decisions. This means that people do not always act as fully rational agents who seek optimal solutions; instead, they often settle for satisfactory options that meet their needs given their constraints. This understanding has significant implications for fields like economics and psychology because it recognizes the complexities of human decision-making and the influence of limitations on judgment.
  • Evaluate the impact of Herbert Simon's contributions to cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence on modern understandings of human cognition.
    • Herbert Simon's contributions to cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence have profoundly shaped modern understandings of human cognition by highlighting the interplay between mental processes and decision-making. His work on bounded rationality and satisficing challenges traditional notions of rationality, emphasizing that people often use heuristics to navigate complex problems. Furthermore, his pioneering efforts in developing computer models of human thought laid foundational concepts for artificial intelligence research. This integration of psychology with technology has led to advancements in how we model human-like reasoning in machines, bridging gaps between disciplines.