Cognitive psychology, a field of scientific research, is dedicated to studying and understanding how the human brain functions. Students who choose to enter this area of academic knowledge gain a comprehensive understanding of the human mind and human behavior. As the American Psychological Association (APA) points out, “Cognitive psychologists study how people acquire, perceive, process and store information. This work can range from exploring how we learn language to understanding the interplay between cognition and emotion.”
For students interested in understanding the nature of human behavior, Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology – Comprehensive program offers a solid educational foundation in this fascinating and crucial subject. This program helps students gain a thorough foundation in various psychological principles, including knowledge of developmental, abnormal, social and cognitive behaviors. Students also explore theories, research methods and practical applications of cognitive psychology, all of which set graduates up for a variety of potential careers.
The Importance of Cognitive Psychology for Educators
According to Kenda Cherry in an article from Verywell Mind, “Cognitive psychology is the study of internal mental processes—all of the workings inside your brain, including perception, thinking, memory, attention, language, problem-solving, and learning.” In other words, cognitive psychology is the science of how humans think, and studying the human mind in this way also helps researchers and psychologists gain a deeper understanding of the physical brain.
Cognitive psychology is not simply a theoretical endeavor. It has practical implications as well, especially for people struggling with cognitive health problems. As Cherry observes, some researchers focus specifically on subjects like brain injuries and degenerative brain disorders. “Treatments rooted in cognitive research focus on helping people replace negative thought patterns with more positive, realistic ones,” according to Cherry. “With the help of cognitive psychologists, people are often able to find ways to cope and even overcome such difficulties.”
Understanding Cognitive Stages and Processes in Children
A critical focus of cognitive psychology is human development. For example, researchers who study how children grow and mature have identified specific developmental milestones. Writing for Positive Psychology, Dr. Saima Latif defines these milestones as “specific skill achievements that occur predictably over time.” Common developmental milestones include elements like language, memory and problem-solving skills.
The growth of thinking skills, or the capacity to reason and mentally manipulate information, is also an important marker of childhood development. Per Dr. Latif, “Thinking is a skill that does not commence at birth. It develops gradually through childhood and advances more rapidly when children are around two years old.”
In fact, by studying cognitive psychology, researchers in the field have even identified specific ages at which children’s thinking skills are expected to have developed. “Reasoning develops around six,” states Dr. Latif. “By the time they’re 11, children’s thinking becomes much more abstract and logical.”
Human Memory and Developmental Stages
The study of human development is not just limited to children. Humans continue to develop throughout their lives, and cognitive psychology offers insights at all stages, as the APA notes: “Developmental psychologists focus on human growth and changes across the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality and emotional growth.”
Becoming a cognitive psychologist who focuses on human development offers a number of potential career paths. For example, developmental psychologists who work in college settings and universities tend to focus primarily on research or teaching, according to the APA: “Others working in more applied settings like health care facilities or clinics help to assess, evaluate and treat people living with developmental disabilities. Developmental psychologists may also work in assisted living homes for the elderly, hospitals, mental health clinics and centers for the homeless.”
Fulfill Your Future Plans With a Cognitive Psychology Degree Online From Southeastern
For those who want to truly understand human behavior, studying cognitive psychology is a good place to start. In Southeastern’s online B.A. in Psychology – Comprehensive program, students take courses like Human Development, which explores human development over the lifespan. The Cognitive Psychology course introduces them to the basic tenets and principles of the field.
Psychology and human development rely on one another. No matter what graduates’ plans might be — whether they aspire to be a researcher, analyst, case manager, social and community services manager, counselor, human resources professional or something else entirely — a thorough knowledge of human psychology will serve them well.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online B.A. in Psychology – Comprehensive program.