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Cognitive Psychology

Definition

Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of mind as an information processor - it involves studying how people perceive, remember, think about information & solve problems.

Analogy

Imagine cognitive psychology as being similar to computer science. Just like computer scientists try to understand how a computer processes information, cognitive psychologists try to understand how the human mind processes information.

Related terms

Cognition: The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

Memory: The faculty by which the brain encodes, stores, and retrieves information. It is a record of experience for guiding future action.

Perception: The process by which people translate sensory impressions into a coherent view of the world around them.



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.