Home›Branches of Psychology›Cognitive PsychologyBranches of PsychologyCognitive PsychologyCitation FormatsGeneral ReferenceGeneral Reference Citation TextPsychology Atlas. "Cognitive Psychology." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/branches/cognitive-psychology.Copy General ReferenceAPA StyleAPA Style Citation TextPsychology Atlas. (n.d.). Cognitive Psychology. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/branches/cognitive-psychologyCopy APA StyleBibTeXBibTeX Citation Text@misc{psychologyatlas-cognitive-psychology, author = {Psychology Atlas}, title = {Cognitive Psychology}, year = {2026}, url = {https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/branches/cognitive-psychology}, note = {Accessed August 30, 2026} }Copy BibTeXReference and ClassificationDevelopingHead in Profile with a Node NetworkThe branch of psychology that focuses on the process of thinking, including memory, problem solving, learning, attention and language, treating the mind as an information processing system.FactsCross-Tradition ConnectionsSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)FactsCentral QuestionWell-attestedHow does the mind take in, store and use information, treating thought itself as a process that can be studied scientifically? 1Key DebateWell-attestedWhether modeling the mind chiefly as an internal information processor neglects the body and the surrounding world; newer embodied and embedded approaches argue cognition cannot be fully understood apart from its physical and social context. 1Cross-Tradition ConnectionsAssociated WithElizabeth Loftus, Psychologists Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Elizabeth Loftustier 2IncludesCognitive Load Theory, Theories and Concepts Well-attested Cognitivism, Schools and Movements Well-attested Daniel Kahneman, Psychologists Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Daniel Kahnemantier 2Dual Process Theory, Theories and Concepts Well-attested Ebbinghaus's Forgetting Curve Experiments, Studies and Experiments Well-attested Functionalism, Schools and Movements Well-attested George Sperling, Psychologists Well-attested Source Wikipedia: George Sperlingtier 2Gestalt Psychology, Schools and Movements Well-attested Hermann Ebbinghaus, Psychologists Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Hermann Ebbinghaustier 2John Sweller, Psychologists Well-attested Judgment Under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases, Studies and Experiments Well-attested Köhler's Insight Learning Experiments, Studies and Experiments Well-attested Loftus and Palmer's Car Crash Experiment, Studies and Experiments Well-attested Lost in the Mall Experiment, Studies and Experiments Well-attested Max Wertheimer, Psychologists Well-attested Miller's Magical Number Seven Experiments, Studies and Experiments Well-attested Misinformation Effect, Theories and Concepts Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Misinformation Effecttier 2Peter Wason, Psychologists Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Peter Cathcart Wasontier 2Psychometrics, Theories and Concepts Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Psychometricstier 2Robert Sternberg, Psychologists Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Robert Sternbergtier 2Sally-Anne Test, Studies and Experiments Well-attested Sperling's Iconic Memory Experiment, Studies and Experiments Well-attested Structuralism, Schools and Movements Well-attested Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Theories and Concepts Well-attested Tolman's Cognitive Map Experiments, Studies and Experiments Well-attested ConnectedTolman's maze work is a standing bridge figure between behaviorism and the later cognitive branch; the study is placed in both branches rather than picking one over the other.Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, Theories and Concepts Well-attested Ulric Neisser, Psychologists Well-attested Wason Selection Task, Studies and Experiments Well-attested Wilhelm Wundt, Psychologists Well-attested William James, Psychologists Well-attested Sources1. Wikipedia: Cognitive psychologytier 2Wikimedia FoundationOpening paragraphQuote, Opening paragraphCognitive psychology is the scientific study of human mental processes such as attention, language use, memory, perception, problem solving, creativity, and reasoning.1. Wikipedia: Cognitive psychologytier 2Wikimedia FoundationExclusive focus on the mind subsection, CriticismsQuote, Exclusive focus on the mind subsection, CriticismsCognitive psychology has been criticised for being overly focused on the internal mind and for failing to account for external influences.Simply Psychology, Branches of Psychologytier 3Simply Psychology (Saul McLeod Ltd)Branches of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology sectionQuote, Branches of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology sectionThe study of cognitive psychology focuses on the process of thinking. It includes areas such as memory, problem-solving, learning, attention, and language.View the SourceSimply Psychology, Branches of Psychologytier 3Simply Psychology (Saul McLeod Ltd)Branches of Psychology, Cognitive sectionQuote, Branches of Psychology, Cognitive sectionThe study of cognitive psychology focuses on the process of thinking.View the SourceWikipedia: Psychometricstier 2Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Psychometrics, Lead sectionQuote, Includes: Psychometrics, Lead sectionPsychometrics is a field of study within psychology concerned with the theory and technique of measurement.View the SourceWikipedia: Elizabeth Loftustier 2Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Elizabeth Loftus, Lead paragraphQuote, Associated With: Elizabeth Loftus, Lead paragraphAmerican cognitive psychologistWikipedia: Misinformation Effecttier 2Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Misinformation Effect, Neurological causes sectionQuote, Includes: Misinformation Effect, Neurological causes sectionRetrieval of true memories was associated with greater reactivation of sensory-specific cortices, for example, the occipital cortex for vision.Wikipedia: Daniel Kahnemantier 2Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Daniel Kahneman, IntroductionQuote, Includes: Daniel Kahneman, Introductionwas an Israeli-American psychologist best known for his work on the psychology of judgment and decision-making as well as behavioral economicsView the SourceWikipedia: Hermann Ebbinghaustier 2Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Hermann Ebbinghaus, IntroductionQuote, Includes: Hermann Ebbinghaus, Introductionwas a German psychologist who pioneered the experimental study of memoryView the SourceWikipedia: George Sperlingtier 2Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: George Sperling, IntroductionQuote, Includes: George Sperling, Introductionis an American cognitive psychologist, researcher, and educatorView the SourceWikipedia: Peter Cathcart Wasontier 2Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Peter Wason, IntroductionQuote, Includes: Peter Wason, Introductionwas an English cognitive psychologistView the SourceWikipedia: Robert Sternbergtier 2Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Robert Sternberg, infoboxQuote, Includes: Robert Sternberg, infoboxFields Cognitive psychologyView the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.View At A Past YearThe atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.Show This Year