Although we will discuss animal intelligence, we will focus on human cognition. Sometimes we want to be alone with our thoughts. There is a simplicity and complexity that comes when thinking. We can be “lost” in thought, “centered” or making “mental leaps.” We feel like thinking, pondering, problem solving and story telling (which are all a part of cognition) are what make us unique.
Early theories of psychology were used to study perception but not the larger issues of thinking, deciding and problem solving. Gestalt psychology was a pre-cognitive theory. In contrast to behavioral approaches, Gestalt thinking allowed for the value of thinking.
Information processing was the first major theory of cognitive psychology. There had been some attempts to describe thinking as signal processing but they never achieved much traction. It be because signal processing sound so technical. In contrast, information processing suggests the mind is like a computer. There are sensory inputs and behavioral outputs but most of the processing in a computer or a mind remains a mystery. And we’re okay with that. Overall, we’re happy ignoring what goes on inside.
Here is a catalog style description of the course:
Overview of cognitive psychology. Topics include thinking, deciding, judging, comparing, and creating mental representations. Special focus on cognitive processes, information processing and problem solving.
Here is what it really means:
This class helps explain human thought and mental processes. It has some practical applications but it is mostly theoretical.
Cognition is the study of thinking. You should take a class in cognition is tou are interested in intelligence, language, decision making or problem solving.
Let’s start with how we use executive functions to distribute the workload.
Attention
Want to jump ahead?
- Attention
- Thinking
- Intelligence
- Problem Solving
- Decisions
- Judgments
- Cognitive Bias
- Information Processing
- Language & Reading
- Hot Cognition
Resources
Summary
Credit: Photo by Juan Rumimpunu on Unsplash
