Course Reflection Discussion: Cognitive Psychology
From the onset, it should be noted that the role cognitive psychology plays when it comes to the further enhancement of our understanding of human interactions and behavior cannot be overstated. It is important to note that thanks to cognitive psychology, it is possible to formulate information processing cognitive models that enable us to not only assess but also evaluate the minds of people. It is in so doing that we are able to map human behavior and cognition by way of having better understanding of consciousness, thinking, as well as memory and perception. Towards this end, cognitive psychology effectively focuses our attention on internal processes as opposed to external behavior (a behaviorist approach).
In essence, thanks to cognitive psychology, we now have in place cognition improvement strategies that are largely socially responsible. This is more so the case given that the receipt and interpretation of information is now generally accepted as a key component influencing behaviors. In that regard, therefore, variances in behavior from person to person are recognized and appreciated. It is this enhanced understanding of thought processes that aids cognitive psychologists in the development of appropriate and socially responsible interventions that bring about the desired behavioral changes.
Going forward, cognitive psychology is likely to be even more relevant in a practical sense. Future applications could include, but they are not limited to, better understanding (and utilization) of imagery mnemonics in memory restoration/rehabilitation and advancement of research into mental disorders such as amnestic syndrome. Yet another unlikely setting where cognitive psychology could find practical utilization going forward is advertising. This is more so the case when it comes to efforts to design and develop marketing campaigns that are effective and most appealing to the target audience. This would call for better understanding of consumer information processing tendencies and perceptions.
