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BPSY 90 – Cognitive Psychology
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Topic: History and Approaches of Cognitive Psychology
I. History of Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology emerged as a response to the limitations of behaviorism, which
dominated psychology in the early 20th century. While behaviorism focused on
observable behaviors and external stimuli, cognitive psychology emphasized mental
processes like thinking, memory, and language.
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Early Influences:
Wilhelm Wundt: Considered the father of psychology. Used introspection to explore the
content of consciousness. He believed mental processes could be studied scientifically.
Hermann Ebbinghaus: Pioneered experimental research on memory. He introduced
the "forgetting curve" and studied how we retain or lose information over time.
Frederic Bartlett: Criticized artificial memory experiments and emphasized the role of
schemas—mental structures that shape how we interpret and remember information.
Jean Piaget: Known for his theory of cognitive development in children. He proposed
stages (sensorimotor, preoperational, etc.) through which thinking evolves as a child
matures.
Noam Chomsky: Challenged B.F. Skinner's behaviorist view of language. He argued
that humans have an innate language acquisition device, which reintroduced mental
processes into psychology.
Ulric Neisser: Often called the “father of cognitive psychology.” He published the first
textbook titled Cognitive Psychology in 1967, defining the field’s scope.
II. The Cognitive Revolution (1950s–1960s)
This revolution marked a shift from behaviorism to a renewed interest in the mind.
Psychologists began comparing the human mind to a computer, introducing models
based on input–process–output systems.
Key characteristics of this revolution:
