Cognitive Psychology: Historical perspectives of cognitive psychology

 

(CP-02) Historical perspectives of cognitive psychology

Abstract: This article provides a comprehensive historical perspective on cognitive psychology, a subfield of psychology that studies mental processes such as perception, attention, memory, language, and problem-solving. The origins of cognitive psychology can be traced back to the 1950s when psychologists started exploring the role of mental processes in behavior, leading to the cognitive revolution of the 1950s and 1960s. Today, cognitive psychology continues to evolve, with cognitive neuroscience being one of the most significant developments in recent years. Key areas of research include attention, memory, language processing, problem-solving, and decision-making. The article also covers important contributions from Gestalt psychology, information processing theory, and cognitive development theory. Overall, cognitive psychology is a vibrant area of research that seeks to understand the workings of the human mind and the relationship between cognition and behavior.Top of Form

Cognitive psychology is a subfield of psychology that focuses on the study of mental processes such as perception, attention, memory, language, and problem-solving. Cognitive psychologists seek to understand how these mental processes work and how they are related to behavior. This blog will provide a detailed and comprehensive historical perspective of cognitive psychology, covering its development from the 1950s to the present.

The Beginning of Cognitive Psychology:

The origins of cognitive psychology can be traced back to the 1950s when the field of psychology began to shift its focus away from behaviorism. Behaviorism was a school of psychology that emphasized the importance of observable behavior and downplayed the role of mental processes. However, in the 1950s, psychologists began to question the limitations of behaviorism and sought to explore the role of mental processes in behavior.

One of the key figures in the development of cognitive psychology was George Miller. In 1956, Miller published a paper titled "The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information." In this paper, Miller argued that the human mind had a limited capacity for processing information, and that this capacity was about seven items (plus or minus two). This research paved the way for the study of human cognition and set the stage for the emergence of cognitive psychology.

The Cognitive Revolution:

The 1950s and 1960s saw the emergence of what is known as the "cognitive revolution." This was a period of intense activity in which psychologists sought to understand the workings of the human mind. One of the most influential figures during this period was Ulric Neisser. In 1967, Neisser published a book titled "Cognitive Psychology," which provided a comprehensive overview of the field. Neisser argued that the mind should be studied as an information-processing system, and that mental processes could be studied using scientific methods.

Another key figure during this period was Jerome Bruner. Bruner believed that the mind was an active processor of information and that people actively constructed their own knowledge. Bruner's work focused on the role of perception, memory, and language in cognition.

Cognitive Psychology Today:

Today, cognitive psychology continues to be a vibrant field of research. Psychologists use a variety of methods to study cognition, including behavioral experiments, brain imaging, and computer modeling. One of the most important developments in cognitive psychology in recent years has been the development of cognitive neuroscience, which seeks to understand the neural basis of cognition.

One of the key areas of research in cognitive psychology today is the study of attention. Psychologists are interested in understanding how we select information from the environment and how we focus our attention on specific tasks. Other areas of research include memory, language processing, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Cognitive psychology has come a long way since its origins in the 1950s. Today, cognitive psychologists use a variety of methods to study the workings of the human mind, and the field continues to evolve and grow. While the origins of cognitive psychology can be traced back to a few key figures, the field has developed into a complex and multi-faceted area of research.

Apart from the cognitive revolution of the 1950s and 60s, there are other important historical perspectives that have contributed to the development of cognitive psychology. These include Gestalt psychology, information processing theory, and cognitive development theory.

Gestalt Psychology:

Gestalt psychology was a school of thought that emerged in Germany in the early 20th century. Gestalt psychologists believed that perception was not just the sum of its parts, but that it involved the organization of sensory information into meaningful patterns.

The work of Gestalt psychologists influenced the development of cognitive psychology, particularly in the areas of perception and problem-solving. For example, the idea that the mind actively organizes sensory information into meaningful patterns has been used to explain how people solve problems and make decisions.

Information Processing Theory:

Information processing theory was developed in the 1950s and 60s, and it was a key part of the cognitive revolution. The theory posits that the mind is like a computer, and it processes information in a series of stages. The information processing model suggests that information is first processed in sensory memory, then moves to short-term memory, and finally to long-term memory. This model has been used to explain how people learn and remember information.

Cognitive Development Theory:

Cognitive development theory was developed by Jean Piaget in the 1930s and 40s. Piaget believed that children actively construct their own knowledge through their experiences with the world. Piaget's theory has been used to explain how children learn and develop, and it has influenced the development of cognitive psychology.

Conclusion:

The history of cognitive psychology is a complex and multifaceted one that involves the contributions of many different perspectives and schools of thought. From the cognitive revolution of the 1950s and 60s to the influence of Gestalt psychology, information processing theory, and cognitive development theory, the field of cognitive psychology has been shaped by a variety of historical perspectives. Today, cognitive psychology continues to be a vibrant area of research that seeks to understand the workings of the human mind and the relationship between cognition and behavior.

References:

1. Miller, G. A. (1956). The magical number seven, plus or minus two: Some limits on our capacity for processing information. Psychological Review, 63(2), 81-97.
2. Neisser, U. (1967). Cognitive psychology. Appleton-Century-Crofts.
3. Bruner, J. (1990). Acts of meaning. Harvard University Press.
4. Kuhn, T. S. (2012). The structure of scientific revolutions. University of Chicago Press.
5. Roediger, H. L., & Gallo, D. A. (2016). Handbook of cognitive psychology. John Wiley & Sons.
6. Miller, G. A., Galanter, E., & Pribram, K. H. (1960). Plans and the structure of behavior. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
7. Anderson, J. R. (2007). How can the human mind occur in the physical universe? Oxford University Press.
8. Green, C. D., & Oliva, A. (2016). Handbook of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Springer.
9. Baddeley, A. D. (1997). Human memory: Theory and practice. Psychology Press.
10. Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. International Universities Press.