Cognitive psychology

Definition

Cognitive psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the study of mental processes, including perception, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making. It examines how people acquire, process, and store information, emphasizing the internal mental processes that influence behavior. This field has deep connections to earlier philosophical ideas about the mind and has also integrated insights from various disciplines such as neuroscience and artificial intelligence to better understand cognition.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cognitive psychology emerged as a distinct field in the mid-20th century, largely in response to the limitations of behaviorism, which ignored mental processes.
2. Key figures in cognitive psychology include Ulric Neisser, often referred to as the 'father of cognitive psychology', who published a foundational textbook in 1967.
3. Research methods in cognitive psychology often include experiments, case studies, and computational modeling to explore complex mental functions.
4. Cognitive psychology has practical applications in areas such as education, therapy, artificial intelligence, and user experience design.
5. The field continuously evolves by incorporating findings from neuroscience, leading to advancements in understanding disorders like ADHD and Alzheimer's disease.

Review Questions

• How did cognitive psychology develop as a response to earlier psychological theories such as behaviorism?
  • Cognitive psychology developed as a reaction against behaviorism, which focused solely on observable behaviors and neglected mental processes. Researchers recognized that understanding human behavior required exploring the internal thoughts and mechanisms behind actions. This shift allowed for a richer understanding of how people think, learn, and remember, leading to the establishment of cognitive psychology as a vital area of study in understanding human behavior.
• Discuss the significance of Ulric Neisser's contributions to the field of cognitive psychology.
  • Ulric Neisser played a crucial role in shaping cognitive psychology by emphasizing the importance of studying mental processes scientifically. His publication of 'Cognitive Psychology' in 1967 provided a comprehensive overview of the emerging field and established foundational concepts that would guide future research. Neisser's work encouraged a focus on real-world applications and helped legitimize cognitive psychology as a major area of study within psychology, influencing both research methods and theoretical frameworks.
• Evaluate how advancements in neuroscience have impacted cognitive psychology and its understanding of mental processes.
  • Advancements in neuroscience have significantly enriched cognitive psychology by providing insights into the biological underpinnings of mental processes. Techniques like functional MRI (fMRI) allow researchers to observe brain activity during cognitive tasks, bridging the gap between mental functions and neural mechanisms. This integration has led to more nuanced theories about cognition and has improved our understanding of various psychological disorders. The collaboration between these fields continues to push boundaries in areas such as memory research and learning strategies.

Related terms

Cognitive Neuroscience: An interdisciplinary field that explores the relationship between cognitive processes and brain function, using techniques like brain imaging to understand how the brain supports mental activities.

Behaviorism: A psychological approach that emphasizes observable behaviors over internal mental processes, often contrasted with cognitive psychology which focuses on understanding the mind.

Information Processing: A cognitive framework that likens the human mind to a computer, highlighting how information is received, processed, stored, and retrieved in cognitive tasks.