...Cognitive Psychology Known as one of the fastest growing and most interesting subfields of psychology today, cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that studies the mental processes of learning, memory, perception, as well as problem solving. The study includes analyzing the step by step process in the manner in which a person moves, talks, thinks, and remembers, or how the brain acquires, processes, and stores information. It is crucial to understand what cognitive psychology is and how it pertains to the field of psychology as a whole. There are four key milestones in the development of cognitive psychology as a discipline which will be discussed further in this paper. Of the various milestones present in the development of cognitive psychology, the process of introspection; the method of study in which people have attempted to follow their own thought processes, usually as they performed a simple task (Willingham, 2007). For example, while brushing his/her teeth, an individual may be reminded of being taught how to brush their teeth. This simple task may bring joy to someone as they outwardly smile as their memory brings them back to a simpler time. Functionalism is another milestone worth mentioning as this process is where there is a purpose; they must be for something (Willingham, 2007). For example, an individual may be inspired to obtain a higher education in an effort to obtain knowledge which leads to career opportunities and financial opportunities...
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...Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper | Kyle GrossoPSY/360December 21, 2014 | Cognitive Psychology is a branch of psychology that is concerned with our mental processes, such as perception, thinking, learning, and memory. It is also specifically concerned with the relationship between sensory stimulation and the overt expression of behavior (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, n.d.). There are many disciplines in psychology that helped in the development of cognitive psychology, such as Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism, and Gestalt psychology (Galotti, 2014). Structuralism is a discipline of psychology developed by Wilhelm Wundt that established a “science of mind” to determine the laws and principles that explain our conscious experiences. Wundt wanted to identify the different parts of the brain and study how all these parts work together to make up the human brain as a whole (Galotti, 2014). Functionalism was another discipline of psychology that aided in the development of cognitive psychology. Functionalism was developed by William James who, like Wundt, was also concerned with our conscious experiences. But contrary to Wundt, James was more concerned about why the mind works the way that it does (Galotti, 2014). Both functionalism and structuralism had a major impact in the development of many different disciplines of psychology. Structuralism was considered the first school of thought in psychology and influenced experimental psychology. Functionalism...
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...Cognitive Psychology Definition Alesandra Leiman PSY/360 February 3, 2014 Dr. Dione Johnson-Williams Definition The dominant aspects of cognitive theory involve the interaction between mental components and the information that is processed through this complex network (Neisser, 1967). As individuals learn, they activity create cognitive structures which determine their concepts of self and the environment (McEntire, 1992). Interestingly, the specific process of learning is not the primary area of concern in cognitive research; instead, learning is viewed as only one of the many processes comprised by the human mind (Anderson, 1980). Some approaches deal with detailed analyses of information-processing skills, while others focus on mental models or cognitive growth and development (Mayer, 1981). Milestones in the Development of Cognitive Science Much of the history of this formulation has been told by Gardner (1985), though his chapter on psychology contains comparatively little on the recent contributions of psychology to cognitive science, focusing mainly on historical theories of perception and cognition, such as those of Wundt and the Gestaltists. The theoretical center piece of traditional cognitive science is the computer analogy, or, more accurately, the assertion that animal and human psychology occurs through computational processes in organisms involving physical symbol systems (Fodor, 1975; Newell, 1980). According to Anderson (1980), cognitive psychology...
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...Introduction Cognitive psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with a person’s internal states and their cognitive functions such as, their problem solving abilities, their motivation, their thinking, and even their attention. The development of cognitive psychology is marked by several milestones in the field of psychology. With the need for change in theories and methods on how things are researched, certain developments ultimately lead to the development of cognitive psychology. This paper will cover four of the milestones that lead to the development of cognitive psychology. This paper will also cover why observable behavior is important in cognitive psychology. Development of Cognitive Psychology The development of cognitive psychology came about marked by different milestones that all paved the way for the cognitive perspective. One of the four major milestones that helped the development of cognitive psychology was behaviorism. Behaviorism as a perspective of psychology had its shortfalls such as not being able to account for all the experimental data that was being introduced (Willingham, 2007). The experimental data included studies in language and memory. Another drawback to behaviorism was that it was founded on the basic principle that psychology should only focus on that which was observable. Everything that was not observable, such as a person’s thoughts, was considered not important to behavior. The second milestone that this paper will cover is that...
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...Cognitive Psychology Known as one of the fastest growing and most interesting subfields of psychology today, cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that studies the mental processes of learning, memory, perception, as well as problem solving. The study includes analyzing the step by step process in the manner in which a person moves, talks, thinks, and remembers, or how the brain acquires, processes, and stores information. It is crucial to understand what cognitive psychology is and how it pertains to the field of psychology as a whole. There are four key milestones in the development of cognitive psychology as a discipline which will be discussed further in this paper. Of the various milestones present in the development of cognitive psychology, the process of introspection; the method of study in which people have attempted to follow their own thought processes, usually as they performed a simple task (Willingham, 2007). For example, while brushing his/her teeth, an individual may be reminded of being taught how to brush their teeth. This simple task may bring joy to someone as they outwardly smile as their memory brings them back to a simpler time. Functionalism is another milestone worth mentioning as this process is where there is a purpose; they must be for something (Willingham, 2007). For example, an individual may be inspired to obtain a higher education in an effort to obtain knowledge which leads to career opportunities and financial opportunities...
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...Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper Gregory Finch PSY/360 Axia College/University of Phoenix Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper Because of a prominent contrast, behaviorism and cognitive psychology are often compared. Cognitive psychology focuses on determining understandable explanations of the human mental processes, whereas behaviorism does not address the concerns of mental processes. The main objective of cognitive psychology is to explain the human transformation of thoughts into manifistations by a cognitive process. As behaviorism was being questioned and at the end of popular opinion, cognitive psychology, with the assistance of the application of abstract concepts, neuroscience, and new technology sprung into existence. With a scientific approach of the psyche, cognitive psychology has allowed new applications in the treatment of human dysfunction and disease. It is the intension of this paper to discuss the importance of behavioral observation in cognitive psychology while identifying a minimum of four prominent milestones in the development of the discipline of cognitive psychology. Cognitive Psychology Defined According to Merriam-Webster, by definition, cognitive psychology is “a branch of psychology concerned with mental processes (as...
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...Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper PSY/360 July 21, 20xx xxxx Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper Defining Cognitive Psychology Cognitive psychology focuses on the way human’s process information, looking at how we treat information that comes in to the person, better known as stimuli, and how this treatment leads to responses (McLeod, 2007). Cognitive psychologists study internal processes including perception, attention, language, memory and thinking. In ancient Greece, cognitive psychology created the need to understand how the mind works and what processes are involved in learning. Philosophers and early psychologists studied the mind, however the ancient Greeks knew little about the human mind and the mental process. Cognitive psychology is the field of psychology that emphasizes the study of mental processes (Galotti, 2014). These processes include thinking, language, problem solving, knowing, reasoning, judging and decision making. Cognitive psychology concluded that humans were not pushed or pulled by environmental factors. Cognitive psychology also studied how people view and understand the world. Subjects wanted to describe the patterns and irregularities during the operation of his or her mind. There were several key milestones in the development of cognitive psychology. Key Milestones in the Development of Cognitive Psychology Developmental milestones began in ancient Greek times have set a precedent in today’s views of cognitive psychology...
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...Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper Cognitive psychology can be defined as basically the study of the mind. These mental processes include thinking, believing, problem solving, remembering, speaking, decision making, learning, perceiving, and reasoning. Cognitive psychology uses scientific research methods in studying the mental process. It focuses on how someone acquires, processes, and stores information, and it studies how someone views and understands the world around them. Using this method also utilizes other methods to identify behavior through characteristics other than its obvious properties. This discipline of psychology was not just created overnight, it took some milestones in psychology to help create. Neuroscience Neuroscience is used to see how the brain and nervous system determine behaviors, cognitive psychologists use this to identify brain areas that enable functioning. Neuroscientists can account for intelligent behavior through the use of abstract constructs, hypothetical representation, and processes. They have also established definitive links between structures of the brain and functioning. The research of neuroscientists enables the understanding of states of consciousness, sensory experiences, emotion, motivation, development through life spans, and psychological health. Behaviorism Behaviorism helped create cognitive psychology because when behaviorism was criticized, it was not able to answer many of the questions or account for different...
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...Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper PSY 360 Cognitive Psychology Definition The cognitive approach to human and comparative psychology supports two major projections: 1) there are cognitive representations and processes that act on those representations (Willingham, 2007). 2) we can discover these representations and processes, albeit indirectly (Willingham, 2007). This approach proposes a consensus amongst B.F. Skinner’s cut-and-dry input²output relations and C.L. Hull’s hypothetical constructs and intervening variables. In the first case, there is limited access for intermediary cognitive processes among stimulus and response, independent from the domain of effortless associative learning. In the second case, there is lacking a definite scientific means by which to impartially observe the theoretical cognitive mechanisms at hand. Nonetheless, E. C. Tolman was one of the first psychologists to insinuate that intermediary cognitive processes could be determined through the results of scientifically meticulous experimentation. It is on this extremely complex proposal, that theoretical cognitive processes can be inferred by observing behavior, which most informs the developmental milestones in the formation of the cognitive perspective as a branch of psychology. Cognitive Psychology relates to developments, both past and present, in the investigation of the memory process, verbal communication, discernment, the ability to...
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...Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper Judith Reitz University of Phoenix PSY360 Abstract Since one major branch in psychology cannot contribute strongly enough to the greater understanding of human kind, there came many others that were developed and had to follow. However, each of these specific disciplines has had their own purpose and area that uses its tools and knowledge that can properly explain their many different actions. In taking into consideration all these aspects and views from each individual discipline can help one to grasp many different behaviors better including the causes of an action. Take for instance, an action say as a thought grants to seeing something as a whole instead of only from one perspective. Being able to perform this way leads to an overall better comprehension of one’s world, which is significant to the quality of life. While understanding requires thinking, the occurrence of cognitive psychology was never one of a doubt but more one of a timely fashion. Cognitive Psychology Definition Foundation of Cognitive Psychology As simple cognitive psychology might appear for many these days, the same cannot be applied to its...
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...Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper PSY/360 December 10, 2013 In psychology there are several important factors and milestones in the development of cognitive psychology; each approach is important to the foundation of cognitive psychology. Cognitive psychology’s purpose is to study the mental process to give a better understanding of how individuals think, what they remember, and how they perceive and process information. If we were to consider psychology as a discipline; the question then becomes what key elements are important and why. The ancient researchers of ancient Greece approximately 2, 400 years ago, made notes of how individuals reacted to different situations; “We can see that the answers that Greek philosophers came up with were not accurate; but were their questions at least good ones?” (Willingham, 2007, p. 7) “ Many books will tell you that the Greeks’ lasting contribution lies in the questions they raised, which set the agenda for future philosophers and eventually for cognitive psychology” (Willingham, 2007, p. 7). During a period noted as the Dark Ages, “few contributions were added to the philosophy of mind between the time of Aristotle, who died in 322 B.C., and the birth of Descartes at the end of the 16th century” (Willingham, 2007, p. 8). During the Renaissance period, the platform of cognitive psychology began to take on a more personal form and its findings not only appealed to researchers but to individuals. “The Renaissance brought...
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...Cognitive Psychology Cognitive psychology is a scientific examination of a person’s cognition. It focuses on how we distinguish, learn, and retain information, think, rationale, and respond. There are sub domains of cognitive psychology which are insight, attention, knowledge, memory, idea formation, way of thinking, judgment, choice making, predicament solving, and language dispensation. Perception is how we understand things around us. Attention is how we decide what is significant to us when offered with numerous things. Learning helps to enhance the response that we have to our surroundings. Memory is the capability at which we obtain things. Concept configuration is the ability to systematize our many diverse perceptions. Conclusion, decisions, reasoning, and predicament solving are how we shape the choices that we create and how we believe about the choices that we create. Language insight is how we understand the things we say and hear (Scholarepedia, 2011). Perception is one of the main landmarks of cognitive psychology. Perception is how people deliberately distinguish objects. From a visual point of view insight would include recognizing the form of an object, dimension, and distance away from the person. Perception is how a person gains access to information about the adjacent environment right away (Willingham, 2007). George Berkeley discussed insight as being a fraction of the empiricist versus nativist dispute. Berkeley happened to be an intense empiricist. He...
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...Cognitive Psychology The field of psychology is made up of different branches and each branch gives a range of different ideas and theories toward the compound field of psychology. Cognitive psychology is one branch that focuses on how cognition directly affects human behavior. Primarily cognitive psychology tries to uncover the underlying mental processes that play a role on particular human behaviors. Cognitive psychology was created in distinction of behavioral psychology. Major human functions can be observed through theories from the cognitive branch of psychology. These things can range from language, problem solving skills, memory functioning, and perception. Cognitive psychologists have developed many theories over the years that have made major contributions to the general field of psychology. The Foundation of Cognitive Psychology Prior to cognitive psychology becoming a significant branch of the psychology field, behavioral psychology was the main branch within psychology. Cognitive psychology came about when psychologists began to have questions about the behavioral method to psychology. Several psychologists felt that the behavioral approach to psychology had many gaps when it came to basic human functions such as memory, language, and learning. Psychologists attempted to fill these gaps by comparing the human mind to a computer (Willingham, 2007). Psychologists and scientists who studied artificial intelligence considered that the human mind functioned similar...
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...of Cognitive Psychology as a Discipline PSYCH560/Cognitive Psychology December 3rd 2011 Evolution of Cognitive Psychology as a Discipline Cognition Cognition is typically referred to as the procedure of obtaining, retaining, using and applying information or knowledge. It can sometimes be defined as the science of knowing. Cognition “refers to all processes by which the sensory input is transformed, reduced, elaborated, stored, recovered, and used” (Neisser, 1967). When defined broadly, cognition includes the processing of emotions; however, if defined narrowly, it excludes emotion processing. Cognition includes all the mental processes. For example, attaining knowledge and understanding, thinking, remembering, assuming, perceiving, judging and even analytical problem-solving are all part of cognition. Given such a comprehensive definition, it is evident that cognition is concerned in everything a human being might probably do; every psychological experience is a cognitive experience. However, although cognitive psychology is related to all human activity rather than a few segments of it, the apprehension is that it is from a specific point of view yet other viewpoints are evenly justifiable and essential. The Interdisciplinary Perspective & Emergence of Cognitive Psychology As well as being part of psychology as a whole, cognitive psychology is also part of the more general interdisciplinary subject of cognitive science...
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...Foundations of Cognitive Theory Elizabeth Caldwell Excelsior College Abstract Cognitive-learning theories explore the complexity of the mind from the perspective of how the mind processes information. The paper will discuss the history of cognitive-learning theories and how they shaped the way one perceives, organizes, stores, and retrieves information. The main focus will be on Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, however, it will include theorists such as Wilhelm Wundt, William James, Edward Tolman and Frederic Bartlett. It will start off with the definition of cognitive theory and move on to the history of psychological theorists, ending with the conclusion. Keywords: Defining Cognitive Theory Cognitive theory is an approach to psychology that attempts to explain human behavior by understanding the thought processes (Fritscher, 2014). The main facet of cognitive theory involves the communications between mental components and the information that is processed through this intricate system. As individuals learn, they vigorously generate cognitive arraignments which determine their perceptions of environment and self. Concepts of Cognitive Theorists Cognitive theorists think that learning consists of the incorporation of events into an operating storage system contained within the organizational structures called schemata. This concept of schemata was introduced by Frederic C. Bartlett in the early 1930’s. We will discuss more about Frederic C. Bartlett...
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