Introduction
In numerous schools where psychology is taught, psychology tutors and students define cognitive psychology as a discipline that deals with memory, erudition, thoughts, verbal communication, and sometimes visual processing of information in individuals. The main aim of studying psychology is to gain a deeper understanding of a person’s ability in performing things normally. Different individuals face different challenges; many that leave them puzzled and wondering why they did happen that way.
Sometimes, these people find it hard to deploy an answer or even speculate the core reason as to why things happen either positively, or negatively. However, this was not to remain that way forever. Several researchers and scholars developed theories leading to the explanation of these facts.
As far as the mental ability of a person concerns, the ups and downs of life seem to pose serious challenges to people; hence, the need for quick developmental adjustments. Nevertheless, from these theories sprung beliefs that each should embrace, to experience proper human conduct and stimulations. Today, the study of cognitive psychology has led to the establishment of one school of thought-cognitivism, which will look at various disciplines in the psychology of human beings.
Among these fields include the study of people’s perceptions and thinking styles, ability to flashback, conduct, study skills and mental abilities like idiom and recollection. The paper will examine milestones within cognitive psychology that have so far led to the successful study of psychological disciplines. (Eckardt, 1993, pp. 1-12).
Milestones in the development of cognitive psychology as a discipline
The struggle to adopt new and substantive theories to explain cognitive psychology continued even up to the end of the 19th century. The rise in cognitive descriptions among individuals continued to fascinate psychologists even more; thus demanding more explanations and new theories. For example, at the dawn of the 19th century, Jean Piaget- behaviorist invented a theory explaining child thoughts. He aimed to describe why children behave the way they do under given circumstances.
Additionally, in the mid of 19th century, Skinner B.F. came up with a theory to explain language and other psychological phenomena although later discarded by Noam Chomsky. But these theories do not exist today simply because; there were more uncertainties associated with them. The emergence of cognitive psychology allowed wider behavioral changes hence clarity. Notably, from that time onwards, scholars fascinated by desire began to think of cognition to deliver their theories effectively without any obscurities.
The first milestone of cognitive psychology dates back when a psychologist by the name Wilhelm Wundt experimented in his laboratory in search of psychological disciplines. He based he believe on ‘structuralism’ as the basis of reading human thoughts in his experiment.
Wilhelm observed that cognitive psychology is a deeper insight into human behavior; that is, how an individual’s unconscious mind develops from low to interpersonal growth tied up with a myriad of relationships. In addition to this, Wundt concluded that personal experiences within an environmental setup defined what psychology is. (Hergenhahn, 2005, pp. 526-535).
Consequently, another milestone rose up to put more emphasis on cognitive psychology. A scientist by the name Hermann Helmholtz brought forth a powerful theory which many recognize even up to today.
He combined the physiological and physics studies for fervent thinking. Helmholtz did contribute much into psychology by theorizing on the unconscious mind and space visualizations under visual perception in cognitive psychology. The emergence of natural sciences and the wider space explorations, later in the 20th and 21st centuries springs back from Helmholtz theories vital in today’s ever-changing the technological world.
However, this did not stop there. Many people were now aware of cognitive psychology and as a result, there were many emerging psychologists who also wanted to contribute. Just before the end of the twentieth century, Hermann Ebbinghaus decided to carry out an experiment on human thinking capability.
Contrary to Wundt discovery, Hermann believed of a man with a brain of high capabilities that can perform multitask functions. This belief elucidated the ability of an individual to learn by memorizing. In essence, cognitive psychology comprises of memory as a discipline of psychology for elemental erudition.
The third milestone dealt with the consciousness of the mind. Experiments were done by Titchener; Wundt’s student described the three recipes of cognitive psychology. These included image vision, sense of touch, seeing ability whether by emotions or affections. This theory created a revolution in cognitive psychology, especially to body senses like smell, touch, emotions and light intensity recognition.
The fourth milestone is that of functionalism. James William invented this milestone, which explains the reason why people become accustomed to the environment they are in. Nevertheless, other scientists develop this theory further by explaining why animals respond to certain stimuli. A good example, of course, is, why a person cries whenever there is sadness or why persons laugh when there s happiness. (Mandler, 2007, pp. 3-42).
The Importance of Behavioral Observation in Cognitive Psychology
Indeed, the study of cognitive psychology has led to more clarity in the classification of psychological ideas. Ancient psychologists came up with a table too explain their ideas from rationality to immortality to the complete existence of ideas and view of persons. Behavioral observations in cognitive psychology have led to the identification of disciplines associated with it. For example, through rationalization, rationalists identified knowledge and experience as the basis of psychology.
In addition to this, the technological advancements witnessed today are as a result of cognitive psychological behaviors. For example, through behavioral observations, the theory of information and human work factor are now in place. Moreover, it is evident to realize how human beings use artificial intelligence bounded with linguistic thoughts to give out views and ideas about something.
Through behavioral observations, language study is now explicit. Nevertheless, information processing fundamental to human understanding is now analyzed based on what to process. Like computers, human brains process information in terms of memories hence simplification of ideas. (Cognitive Psychology, (n.d.), Para. 2-25).
Conclusion
Cognitive psychology is indeed a historical matter that has undergone evolutions to reach its current state. Nevertheless, there is still more research to be done in cognitive psychology especially on linking it with other psychological areas. Some of the recipes that form cognitive psychology include language, perceptions, how to solve a certain task, human ability, consciousness and how to do all manner classifications. Notably, the study of cognitive psychology has brought much into the field of both social and natural sciences.
Presently, some computers perform tasks under cognitive psychology recipes like memory and language. Moreover, through cognitive psychology, behavioral means continue to elucidate more about behavior and human understanding.
Reference List
Cognitive Psychology. Web.
Eckardt, B. (1993). What Is Cognitive Science? Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Hergenhahn, B. (2005). An introduction to the history of psychology. Belmont, CA, USA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Mandler, G. (2007). A history of modern experimental psychology: From James and Wundt to cognitive science. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.