Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper

Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper

PSY/360

July 29, 2013

Yelena Gidenko

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology is a psychological approach that emphasizes internal mental processes such as thinking, perceiving, remembering, speaking, and problem solving. Cognitive psychology uses abstract constructs to bridge the brain structures and their functions (Willingham, 2007). Cognitive psychology replaced the behaviorism approach by introducing concepts that could not be accommodated by behaviorism alone (Willingham, 2007). Because behaviorism and cognitive psychology are so different in their approaches, the two are often compared (Willingham, 2007).

Key Milestones in the Development of Cognitive Psychology

Behaviorism Falls

The behaviorism approach was based on observing behavior which made it difficult to understand the reasoning in language and memory (Willingham, 2007). Many of the observations that were used by behaviorists were based on animal test subjects; this left no room for understanding the way the human brain works. It became impossible to account for the mental processes taking place in the brain or the intrinsic drives that were addressed by Sigmund Freud or Wundt and James (Wickens, 2005). It became apparent that psychology needed to include all aspects of the psyche, even the aspects that were internalized and not able to be seen by overt behavior. Because behaviorism could not accommodate this need, cognitive psychology stepped up (Willingham, 2007). The main goal of cognitive psychology is to understand the ways that humans can change information into thoughts and actions by the often complex process of cognition (Willingham, 2007).

Information Processing and the Computer Metaphor

In the beginning of cognitive psychology, the human mind was first thought of as a machine. Using this metaphor to explain the mental processes and inner workings of the brain became a powerful force (Willingham, 2007). There are several similarities shared by the human brain and a computer; these include the way that language is processed and the way that information is transferred into our working memory (Willingham, 2007). Even though the use of this analogy did not explain all of the processes in the brain, it did pave the way for further study along the same lines.

Abstract Constructs of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence grew in sophistication as the use of programs which could influence more contemporary thoughts towards logic and behavior along with the support of the idea that abstract constructs may be beneficial in the scientific process