Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper

Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper

Tanisha Hill

June 2, 2014

PSY/360

Instructor: Jennifer Doran

Cognitive Psychology Definition

         Cognitive psychology is a study that is one of the fastest growing subfields of psychology; in which an individual’s mental process and breakdown is the key of what is being studied. This study focuses on one’s behavior based on the way that they think or process information. When a psychologist is using this type of study they will focus on how an individual thinks; how they perceive information; what they tend to remember; and what and how they learn new information (Galotti, K.). In this study it is believed that one’s memory, decision making abilities, and learning abilities can all be improved. Cognitive psychology initially came about between the 1950s and the 1970s; however the phrase was first used in a book written by American psychologist Ulric Neisser in 1967 (Cherry, K.).  There are many key milestones that took place during the development of cognitive psychology; some of them are structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, and the study of individual differences.

        One of the key milestones in cognitive psychology is structuralism. This approach was applied to Wilhelm Wundt beliefs; he was the first to approach cognitive questions as a science and also the first person to do an experiment to test cognitive theories, (Galotti, 2014). Wundt decided to covert a laboratory into an institute to research experimental psychology, he did this to develop a “science of mind”, (Galotti, 2014).  He believes that in doing this he could discover what causes an individual’s immediate conscious experience. Wundt did many studies or experiments where he presented individuals with various stimuli and asked them to describe their conscious experiences. His experiment techniques, known as introspection, were to no avail. In structuralism it is believed that in order to study the human mind you need to strip the mind of real-life, everyday situations to get to the base of mind, and to do your studies or experiments in a laboratory.  

        Another key milestone in cognitive psychology is functionalism. William James’ beliefs were applied to this approach, because he believed that individual’s mind works based on its function. He felt as though people need to learn how to establish good behaviors and stay away from bad behaviors or habits, (Galotti, 2014). Other functionalists that felt as James did were John Dewey and Edward L. Thorndike, because they all felt that an individual adapting to their environment was the best thing for mind to do. In functionalism it is believed that in order to study the human mind or mental phenomena, you have to use real-life, everyday situations.