What Is Cognitive Psychology and Why Is It So Important?

By Monique M. Chouraeshkenazi, Ph.D., PsyD, MSCP  |  08/15/2024

Cognitive psychology studies our brain functions and mental processes specifically focusing on how people think and learn. It is a psychological science that aims to better understand how individuals acquire, perceive, process, and store information.

Cognitive psychologists examine the reasoning processes that induce:

• Cognition
• Creativity
• Emotion
• Problem-solving skills

Understanding how people think is critical for understanding their actions, behaviors, and emotions. In cognitive psychology, we assess how individuals comprehend and respond to the world around them. Additionally, cognitive psychologists analyze how people change their mental processes over time.

The History of Cognitive Psychology

Knowledge of mental processes purportedly emerged as a philosophical concept in ancient times. Plato “discovered” cognitive science when exploring the association between the brain and mental processes. As more philosophical concepts emerged throughout history, the cognitive sciences began to take form.

For example, mind-body dualism is a concept that recognizes the mind and body as separate entities. Empiricism, another philosophical concept, suggests that we can only know what we perceive through our five senses. Lastly, nativism argues that the mind has innate capabilities and does not depend exclusively on experience to learn.

Together, mind-body dualism, empiricism, and nativism attempted to define the relationship between cognition and philosophy more closely.

By the 20th century, the study of human behavior continued to evolve. Advancements in computer science and information theories in the 1950s had a lasting influence on the psychology discipline. Experts examined the human brain through experimentation and various modalities, including computational modeling, neuroimaging, and quantitative analysis.

The cognitive psychology field arose as a result and became vital in understanding aspects of:

• Artificial intelligence
• Behaviorism
• Education
• Psychotherapy
• Neurological and neuropsychological conditions

By the 1960s, researchers embedded cognitive psychology into applied psychology, cybernetics, and linguistics. The psychology field revolves around examining mental processing models and human behavior. Continued research led to cognitive psychology becoming a staple in economics, linguistics, neuroscience, and other cognitive sciences.

Still, cognitive psychology only became a prominent scientific discipline at the end of the 20th century. The discovery of language production and comprehension processes played a key role in establishing cognitive psychology as a field of study.

The Importance of Cognitive Performance

To understand cognitive psychology, we must first understand the factors that influence and help researchers measure cognitive performance. Cognitive performance refers to the brain’s ability to process information and conduct everyday functions like reasoning, problem-solving, and speaking. How people exercise their mental abilities can have lasting effects on their cognitive performance.

Attention  

Attention is the ability to focus on a stimulus while ignoring other stimuli or distractions. We may direct our full attention towards a single stimulus. Alternatively, we may split our focus between multiple stimuli at once.

Cognitive psychologists use specific language to describe how the human mind may direct its attention:

• Selective attention – The ability to focus on one stimulus while ignoring distracting or irrelevant stimuli simultaneously
• Divided attention – Processing and responding to multiple information sources or performing more than one task simultaneously (also known as multitasking)

Cognitive Development

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines cognitive development as “the growth and maturation of thinking processes of all kinds.” The concept of cognitive development is a critical underlying principle of the psychology discipline. Still, this concept is inherently complex.

Consequently, numerous theories aim to explain the intricacies of cognitive development, including:

• Piaget’s Theory – In 1936, Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget theorized that children progress through four essential developmental stages. These stages of cognitive development span from birth through adulthood. They include the sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages.
• Theory of Mind (ToM) – Psychologists David Premack and Guy Woodruff popularized the phrase “theory of mind” in 1978. The two doctors used this term in a paper they published that explored the mental processes of chimpanzees. ToM is a social cognitive theory that focuses on individuals’ abilities to understand that their beliefs, actions, and purposes differ from those of others.

Cognitive Neuroscience

Understanding cognitive neuroscience is key to understanding cognitive functioning – and cognitive psychology. Per the APA, cognitive neuroscience “focuses on the neural mechanisms of cognition.”

Essentially, cognitive neuroscience studies how the physical components within the brain affect behavior. This discipline is also known as “neurocognition.”

Cognitive neuroscientists use multiple methods to examine the connection between neural mechanisms and human thought:

• Brain imaging studies – Using neuroimaging techniques to assess brain activity and its connection to cognitive tasks and methods
• Neuropsychopathological assessments – Evaluations that provide data on how neurodevelopmental, neurocognitive, or neuropsychiatric conditions impact brain activity and cognitive performance

Problem-Solving

Cognitive psychologists study how the mind approaches, handles, and solves problems. There are several factors researchers must consider:

• Heuristics and biases – How does the mind use heuristics, schemata, and other mental shortcuts for problem-solving? How can these shortcuts create bias (e.g., confirmation bias)?
• Problem-solving strategies – How do individuals apply algorithms and rules to solve problems?

Language

Cognitive abilities directly correlate to language skills. Accordingly, cognitive psychology focuses in part on how individuals construct, process, and use linguistics:

• Language acquisition – Researching and learning language and completing language development stages
• Speech recognition – Researching and examining how spoken language is attained

Learning

Cognitive psychologists study how we acquire knowledge and new skills. Our brains can learn and process information through a myriad of methods:

• Classical conditioning – A learning method that examines how automatic, conditioned responses are paired with specific stimuli (i.e., Pavlovian conditioning)
• Operant conditioning – A learning method that uses rewards and punishment systems to modify non-automatic (or voluntary) behaviors (i.e., Skinner and Thorndike)
• Observational learning – A social learning theory postulates that learning is based on imitating and watching others’ attitudes, behaviors, or emotions (i.e., Bandura's social learning theory)

Memory

Memory involves encoding, storing, and retrieving information. It uses recollection and retention skills. Cognitive psychologists study different types of memory:

• Short-term and long-term memory – Researchers observe how specific encoding and rehearsal methods transfer information from short-term to long-term memory.
• Episodic memory – Psychologists explore the factors that can influence or interrupt memories of autobiographical events.

Metacognition

Metacognition refers to individuals’ awareness of their cognitive processes. For example, many people identify as either visual or auditory learners. Understanding which types of learning strategies best support cognitive performance demonstrates metacognition.

Perception

Perception has a major impact on cognitive performance. Our brains interpret sensory information to analyze our environments and our surroundings.

There are two fundamental types of perception that cognitive psychologists study:

• Visual perception – How visual information is interpreted and processed (e.g., facial recognition or recognizing objects)
• Auditory perception – How sounds are interrupted and perceived (e.g., music)

Prominent Research in Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Processes

Many prominent research studies and theories have significantly contributed to shaping the cognitive psychology field. For instance, the earliest research was based on Jean Piaget and the stages of cognitive development he identified in the 1930s.

By 1956, American psychologist George A. Miller advanced our understanding of short-term memory capacity. Miller identified that individuals could hold large amounts of data for up to approximately seven minutes by chunking. This research was vital in understanding cognitive capacity.

As the 1960s approached, social scientist Herbert Simon, along with computer scientist Allen Newell and other colleagues, helped fuel the “cognitive revolution.” This era was underscored by a pivotal convergence of behaviorism theories that led to cognitive psychology.

Simon, Newell, and their colleagues researched and formed monumental theories for problem-solving and information processing. Their work served as the modern framework of cognitive psychology.

Then, in 1964, English psychologist Anne Treisman hypothesized that unattended data is attenuated and partially blocked. Treisman’s most influential work in cognitive psychology was the Attenuation Model, based on attenuation theory, which indicated that our attention is a “filter” when selecting information to process (i.e., selective attention).

Nevertheless, fellow cognitive psychology pioneer Ulric Neisser published “Cognitive Psychology” three years later. This book bolstered internal mental processes and their relationship with examining cognition in real-world contexts.

By 1968, psychologists Richard C. Atkinson and Richard M. Shiffrin developed three memory models:

• Sensory memory
• Short-term memory
• Long-term memory

These models are vital in cognitive psychology, and they helped influence the creation of countless other memory models.

In 1972, Canadian psychologist Endel Tulving examined the relationship between episodic and semantic memory. Tulving focused mainly on cognitive approaches that affect long-term memory.

Two years later, psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky researched decision-making processes. Together, Kahneman and Tversky centralized their efforts on biases and heuristics.

That same year, British psychologist Alan Baddeley and his postdoctoral fellow Graham Hitch expounded on Atkinson and Shiffrin’s short-term memory research. The two psychologists established the conceptualization of working memory.

In fact, Baddeley and Hitch developed the phonological loop and the visuospatial sketchpad. Researchers use both components to model the working memory.

Also in 1974, psychologists Elizabeth F. Loftus and John C. Palmer conducted the now-famous “car crash experiment.” This experiment explained how phrasing questions could significantly affect memory, thus relying upon unreliable eyewitness testimonies. Loftus and Palmer’s research had crucial implications within the legal system.

What Is the Job of a Cognitive Psychologist?

Cognitive psychologists work in various fields and have a broad spectrum of duties. For example, many cognitive psychologists design and conduct experiments to examine different facets of cognition and cognitive performance.

Cognitive scholars can also develop conceptual frameworks, models, and theories to hypothesize and explain cognitive processes. Their work is essential for predicting human behavior, which guides further research within the field.

In addition, cognitive psychologists can apply their knowledge and expertise to educational settings. Their research may shed light on opportunities for schools to support cognitive processes and behavior better. Similarly, cognitive psychology research has the potential to identify new ways to improve productivity in the workplace.

Healthcare and medical environments can also benefit from research in this field. Cognitive psychology findings can help to assist and support the development of therapeutic interventions for a variety of patient concerns:

• Medical conditions
• Mental health and behavior modification
• Physical health
• Other physiological concerns that impact cognitive performance

Cognitive psychologists can work directly with patients to assess and treat cognitive problems resulting from developmental, neurological, or neuropsychiatric conditions. In this modality, psychologists might work in hospitals, laboratories, private practices, or rehabilitation centers.

Simply put, cognitive psychologists use their experience and insights to examine how people think and process information. Research in this field helps identify positive coping styles and new methods to help people live healthier lifestyles.

Career Paths in Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychologists can potentially work in clinical settings, research, and teaching. They can also work in the private sector or for government agencies. Corporations may hire cognitive psychologists to assist with human-computer interaction, software development, or industrial/organizational psychology.

Entry-level positions are not unheard of. Still, it is worth noting that most roles in the field require a master’s- or doctorate-level education.

Practical Applications for Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology research continues to advance. Consequently, this field is now one of the most versatile psychology fields.

People interested in pursuing career paths in cognitive psychology do not need to be medical specialists, neurologists, or neurophysiologists. They can instead complete their studies in psychology.

The human brain is a powerful organ that allows us to utilize our five senses and understand and perceive language. Nevertheless, the brain can sometimes fail us. That is why cognitive psychologists exist: to study the brain and provide expertise on its inner workings.

Because cognitive psychology focuses on studying the human brain, the field has substantially benefited mental health research. Cognitive psychology practices surpass traditional behavioral, humanistic, and psychoanalytic methods to understand our minds.

In fact, the birth of this field was dubbed the “cognitive revolution.” This title was inspired by researchers’ dedication to exploring the connection between actions, cognition behaviors, and emotions. Cognitive psychology also aims to explain how psychological distress may lead to anxiety, depressive, and stress disorders.  

Understanding the need for new treatment developments, early researchers helped bring a cognitive approach to the mental health field. For example, cognitive psychologists helped to pioneer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT).

CBT is a form of psychotherapy or “talk therapy” that identifies and modifies thought behaviors and patterns. It is predicated on the notion that a person’s actions, behaviors, emotions, and thoughts are interconnected. The purpose of CBT is to alter negative behaviors and thoughts to improve mental functioning and emotional well-being.

CBT is the most empirical and experiential research-based treatment. Clinical psychology practitioners consider CBT the “gold standard” for treating a plethora of conditions:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Sleep disorders
• Substance use disorders

REBT is a form of CBT. It assists people with identifying and correcting their irrational thoughts and beliefs that can create behavioral and emotional problems.

REBT examines how behaviors, emotions, and thoughts are linked. It may help to bolster rational thinking and healthy emotional responses to adverse events.

The Role of Cognitive Psychologists in the Greater Psychology Field

Researchers publish an overwhelming amount of scientific data on cognitive psychology. Many influential studies provide additional information on the field and its relationship to behavioral psychology, neuropsychology, and neuroscience.

Cognitive psychology is a prominent faction in psychological science. It continues growing as experts expand their knowledge of human psychology.

New findings have provided invaluable guidance to help inform the way we study the brain. Additionally, cognitive psychology research continues to uncover insights about how the mind impacts human behavior.

Psychology Degrees at American Military University

For adult learners interested in studying human behavior and cognitive processes, American Military University (AMU) offers an online bachelor’s degree in psychology and an online master’s degree in psychology. AMU offers flexible programs led by faculty members who bring real-world experience to the virtual classroom.

Courses in these degree programs include personality theories, learning and cognition, scientific writing, multicultural issues in human behavior, deployment psychology, and disaster psychology. For more information, visit our program page.