1: History of Cognitive Psychology

History of Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology explores how we think, remember, learn, and perceive the world. Its history is a fascinating journey from ancient philosophy to modern science.

Early Roots

The seeds were planted over 2,000 years ago. Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle pondered memory, reasoning, and the mind’s structure. Later, in the 17th century, René Descartes proposed the mind-body dualism idea, suggesting the mind (conscious thought) and body (physical mechanics) interact but operate separately. By the late 1800s, Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology lab in Germany, using introspection—where trained subjects described their thoughts during tasks—to map mental processes.

Behaviorism Takes Over

In the early 1900s, psychology shifted focus. John B. Watson argued that studying invisible "mental events" was unscientific. Instead, behaviorism emerged, emphasizing only observable actions (like pressing levers for food rewards). B.F. Skinner later reinforced this, showing how rewards and punishments shape behavior. For decades, behaviorism dominated, sidelining discussions about the mind itself.

The Cognitive Revolution

By the 1950s, cracks in behaviorism appeared. Scientists realized it couldn’t explain complex human abilities like language or problem-solving. Key sparks ignited change:

• Noam Chomsky critiqued Skinner, arguing language isn’t just learned through rewards but relies on innate mental structures.
• Computer Science provided a metaphor: the mind as an information processor, with inputs (senses), memory storage, and outputs (actions).
• World War II research on attention (e.g., radar operators filtering signals) highlighted internal mental filtering.

Psychologists like George Miller and Ulric Neisser began designing experiments to study memory, attention, and decision-making directly. Neisser’s 1967 book Cognitive Psychology gave the field its name and identity.

Modern Foundations

By the 1970s, cognitive psychology was mainstream. Brain-scanning tools (like fMRI) later allowed scientists to link mental processes to physical brain activity, bridging gaps between mind and biology. This history shows how curiosity about the "inner world" endured, reshaping psychology forever.