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Define Cognitive Psychology

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Define Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive Psychology
Psychology itself was viewed as a part of philosophy in the earlier days, until Wilhelm Wundt established the first laboratory for psychological research in 1879 at Leipzig University. Wundt introduced scientific methods into psychological research. The “Father of Modern Cognitive Psychology”; Ulric Neisser, was born in Kiel, Germany December 08, 1928. Neisser changed the path of psychology. He inspired a group of psychologist in the direction of a field named by his first book, Cognitive Psychology (1967). Cognitive psychology is the study of the mind and the way it works. It is the study of the mental processes, such as problem solving, perception, speaking, thinking, and remembering. It includes mental representations and the use of abstract hypotheses to find relationships between brain structures and their functions. To help us understand how cognitive theories grew into a psychological science, it is essential to understand what milestones assisted in the development of its establishment.
One key milestone for the development of cognitive psychology is neuroscience. It can examine how the brain and nervous system regulates behaviors, it can also account for intelligent behavior through the use of abstract constructs, hypothetical representations, and processes (Whitaker, 2013). Neuroscientist also established absolute links between structures of the brain and functioning. Through neuroscience, cognitive psychologist use methods of localization in identifying brain areas that enable functioning. The research of neuroscientists enables the understanding of states of consciousness, emotion, sensory experiences, development through life spans, motivation, and physical and psychological health.
Information processing model is another key milestone. It is a method for studying the human mind.

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