Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper
University of Phoenix
PSY/360 Cognitive Psychology In psychology today as students we are taught many different theories and disciplines, but one of the new and recently accepted disciplines is Cognitive Psychology. Unlike other disciplines and theories, cognitive psychology is more based on experimentation and being able to use the scientific method. Cognitive psychology’s main focus is to explain to the psychologist or research student how an individual’s actions and thoughts can be explained by cognition. Cherry (2014), “Rather than focusing on things like reinforcement or the unconscious, cognitive psychologists are interested in topics such as information processing and memory.” One of milestones that helped make cognitive psychology what is it is today is ‘individual psychology’ by the now famous Dr. Alfred Adler. Adler played a very important role in the acceptance of psychoanalysis. He was known to be one of the first psychologists to distinguish himself from the psychology community by being able to start his own school of thought. A second milestone in the subject of cognitive psychology that made it to what it is today is also the introduction of the scientific method. The importance of the scientific method is to be able to narrow the false results, which can lead to bad treatments or even therapies that will not help the individual but actually do that opposite. Cherry (2014), “…psychologists utilize the scientific method to conduct psychological research. The scientific method is a set of principles and procedures that are used by researchers to develop questions, collect data, and reach conclusions.” A third milestone in cognitive psychology is the use of the field of neuroscience. This is important neuroscience helps psychologists know which parts of the brain can be affected because the information given can help aid in finding out what is wrong with the individual. Nordqvist (2012), “Neuroscientist focuses on the brain and its impact on behavior and cognitive functions. Not only is neuroscience concerned with the normal functioning of the nervous system, but also what happens to the nervous system when people neurological, psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.” And lastly a forth milestone is the use of Informational Process Model in the field of cognitive psychology. By allowing cognitive psychologists and researchers to use this model it gives them the ability to describe and give answers to mental processes. McLeod (2008), “Cognitive psychology compares the human mind to a computer, suggesting that we too are information processors and that it is possible
