US High School Psychology Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The cognitive approach is rooted in the understanding that psychological experiences are significantly influenced by cognitive processes, including how we think, remember, and make decisions. This perspective posits that our thoughts shape our feelings and behaviors, emphasizing the role of mental processes in understanding human behavior. Cognitive psychologists study various aspects of the mind, such as perception, attention, problem-solving, and language, highlighting how these processes impact our experiences and actions.

For instance, the cognitive approach explores how our memory influences our current attitudes or decisions, tracking how past experiences shape our thinking patterns. This makes the cognitive approach distinct in its focus on internal mental processes rather than external observable behaviors, which would be the primary concern of the behavioral approach. In contrast, the psychodynamic approach emphasizes unconscious motivations and conflicts, while the humanistic approach focuses on individual potential and personal growth, both of which diverge from the cognitive focus on mental processes.