Cognitive revolution

Definition

The cognitive revolution refers to a pivotal shift in psychology during the 1950s and 1960s that moved the focus from behaviorism to understanding internal mental processes. This movement emphasized the importance of studying how people think, perceive, remember, and learn, ultimately leading to the development of cognitive psychology as a major branch of the field. By integrating concepts from linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science, the cognitive revolution transformed social psychology by examining how cognition influences social behavior and interactions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The cognitive revolution emerged as a response to the limitations of behaviorism, which neglected the internal mental states that influence behavior.
2. Key figures in the cognitive revolution include Noam Chomsky, who challenged behaviorist views on language acquisition, and George A. Miller, who studied memory capacity.
3. The cognitive revolution laid the groundwork for interdisciplinary research by incorporating insights from linguistics, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience.
4. This movement highlighted the role of cognitive processes in social psychology, such as how beliefs and attitudes shape interpersonal relationships.
5. The advent of computer technology provided new models for understanding human thought processes and inspired research into cognitive functions.

Review Questions

• How did the cognitive revolution change the focus of psychological research compared to behaviorism?
  • The cognitive revolution shifted psychological research from an exclusive focus on observable behaviors to an exploration of internal mental processes. Unlike behaviorism, which emphasized stimulus-response patterns and disregarded cognition, the cognitive revolution brought attention to how thoughts, beliefs, and memories affect behaviors. This shift allowed researchers to study complex human experiences such as decision-making and problem-solving in a more comprehensive manner.
• Discuss the impact of key figures like Noam Chomsky and George A. Miller on the development of cognitive psychology during the cognitive revolution.
  • Noam Chomsky's critique of behaviorism highlighted its inadequacy in explaining language acquisition, arguing that humans possess an inherent ability for language learning. His ideas encouraged researchers to examine innate cognitive structures. Similarly, George A. Miller's work on memory capacity revealed insights into information processing and cognition. Together, their contributions established a framework for understanding mental functions that profoundly influenced the field of cognitive psychology.
• Evaluate how the cognitive revolution has influenced modern social psychology in terms of understanding human behavior.
  • The cognitive revolution has significantly impacted modern social psychology by incorporating cognitive processes into the analysis of social interactions. Researchers now recognize that factors like perception, memory biases, and social cognition shape individuals' attitudes and behaviors in social contexts. This perspective allows for a more nuanced understanding of phenomena such as conformity, persuasion, and group dynamics, ultimately enriching our comprehension of human behavior within social environments.

Related terms

Behaviorism: A psychological approach that focuses on observable behaviors and disregards internal mental processes, emphasizing the role of environmental stimuli in shaping behavior.

Cognitive Psychology: A subfield of psychology that studies mental processes such as perception, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving, aiming to understand how these processes influence behavior.

Information Processing Theory: A cognitive approach that likens the human mind to a computer, focusing on how information is encoded, stored, and retrieved to influence cognition and behavior.