Key milestones in the historical development of cognitive psychology

Cognitive psychology is stated to be "concerned with the advances in the study of memory, language processing, perception, problem solving and thinking" according to editor of the Journal of Cognitive Psychology, G.D. Logan. (2009) Logan states that areas of research in cognitive psychology include the areas relating to: (1) artificial intelligence; (2) developmental psychology; (3) linguistics; (4) neurophysiology; and (5) social psychology. (Logan, 2009) This work will identify four key milestones in the development of cognitive psychology as a discipline and will discuss the importance of behavioral observation in cognitive psychology.

Introspection

Introspection was first stated by Wilhelm Wundt in a 1907 paper that criticized the Wurzburg psychologists' thought experiments. Wundt stated four rules for the introspective practice as follows: (1) the introspective observer must be able to decide for himself at what point to begin observing the mental process under investigation; (2) the observer must be in a state of heightened attention; (3) each observation must be repeated again and again under the same conditions; and (4) circumstances under which the phenomenon occurs must be investigated by varying the accompanying experimental situations. Wundt's rules and practices for scientific introspection are related to contemporary debates in cognitive science over the nature and proper use of introspection.

II. Behaviorism

The Behaviorist school of thought arose in a response to Wundt's introspection. This view is one described by John B. Watson as a view that is a "...purely objective experimental branch of natural science. Its theoretical goal is the prediction and control of behavior. Introspection forms no essential part of its methods, nor is the scientific value of its data dependent upon the readiness with which they lend themselves to interpretation in terms of consciousness. The behaviorist, in his efforts to get a unitary scheme of animal response, recognizes no dividing line between man and brute. The behavior of man, with all of its refinement and complexity, forms only a part of the behaviorist's total scheme of investigation." (1878-1958)

IV. Functionalism

Structuralism resulted in a reaction that became known as Functionalism which was influenced greatly by the work of William James and the theory of Charles Darwin. Functionalism had as its emphasis intelligence tests, aptitude tests and other such techniques and the use of controlled environments in testing learning and abilities related to problem solving. The focus of the Functionalists was explaining the mental processes more accurately and systematically. The Functionalists school of thought had as its focus the purposes of behavior and consciousness rather than on elements of consciousness itself. In regards to functionalism John B. Watson stated: "My psychological quarrel is not with the systematic and structural psychologist alone. The last fifteen years have seen the growth of what is called functional psychology. This type of psychology decries the use of elements in the static sense of the structuralists. It throws emphasis upon the biological significance of conscious processes instead of upon the analysis of conscious states into introspectively isolable elements. I have done my best to understand the difference between functional psychology and structural psychology. Instead of clarity, confusion grows upon me. The terms sensation, perception, affection, emotion, volition are used as much by the functionalist as by the structuralist." (1878-1958) Functionalism positive influenced behaviorism as well as applied psychology and additionally positively influenced the educational system and this is particularly true in the influence of John Dewey and his belief that learning should take place at the level in which a child is developmentally prepared to learn. (Wagner, 2009; paraphrased)

Summary & Conclusion

These four major developmental periods of cognitive psychology are merely four of the milestones of cognitive psychology development as indeed there are other milestones which have not been reviewed in this present work. Each of these developmental milestones has contributed to what is presently understood in the study of cognitive psychology.