(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.
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:
- 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.
- Neisser,
U. (1967). Cognitive psychology. Appleton-Century-Crofts.
- Bruner,
J. (1990). Acts of meaning. Harvard University Press.
- Kuhn,
T. S. (2012). The structure of scientific revolutions. University of
Chicago Press.
- Roediger,
H. L., & Gallo, D. A. (2016). Handbook of cognitive psychology. John
Wiley & Sons.
- Miller,
G. A., Galanter, E., & Pribram, K. H. (1960). Plans and the structure
of behavior. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
- Anderson,
J. R. (2007). How can the human mind occur in the physical universe?
Oxford University Press.
- Green,
C. D., & Oliva, A. (2016). Handbook of cognitive psychology and neuroscience.
Springer.
- Baddeley,
A. D. (1997). Human memory: Theory and practice. Psychology Press.
- Piaget,
J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. International
Universities Press.
