The Cognitive Revolution

Introduction

This tutorial explores the Cognitive Revolution, a pivotal movement in the 20th century that transformed psychology from a focus on observable behavior to the study of mental processes. Understanding the Cognitive Revolution is essential for grasping how scientific inquiry into the mind has evolved, impacting fields such as psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence.

Step 1: Understand Behaviorism

• Definition: Behaviorism is a psychological approach that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors rather than internal mental states.
• Key Figures: B.F. Skinner and John Watson were prominent behaviorists who argued that behavior could be studied scientifically without considering thoughts or feelings.
• Limitations: Behaviorism struggled to explain complex behaviors that could not be directly observed, leading to a need for new approaches.

Step 2: Explore the Timeline of the Cognitive Revolution

• Key Events:
  • 1940s - 1950s: The shift began as researchers started to focus on mental processes.
  • 1956: George A. Miller published "The magical number seven, plus or minus two," highlighting cognitive limitations in information processing.
  • 1957: Noam Chomsky's work on syntax revolutionized the understanding of language and cognition.
• Impact: This timeline marks the transition from behaviorism to cognitive psychology, laying the groundwork for modern cognitive science.

Step 3: Study Tolman's Rats and Latent Learning

• Tolman's Experiment:
  • Conducted experiments with rats in mazes.
  • Demonstrated that rats could learn a maze without rewards, showcasing latent learning.
• Latent Learning: This concept refers to knowledge that is acquired but not immediately reflected in behavior until a reward is present.
• Application: Understanding latent learning helps explain how individuals learn in environments where immediate feedback is absent.

Step 4: Examine Mental Maps

• Definition: Mental maps are cognitive representations of spatial information.
• Tolman's Contribution: He introduced the idea that rats could create a mental map of a maze, allowing them to navigate even when the reward was removed.
• Real-World Application: Mental mapping is used in navigation, planning, and understanding complex systems in various fields.

Step 5: Review Key Concepts and Contributions

• Mathematical Theory of Communication: Shannon's work in 1948 laid the foundation for understanding information processing.
• Computing Machinery and Intelligence: Turing's 1950 paper raised questions about machine learning and artificial intelligence.
• Syntactic Structures: Chomsky's 1957 work revolutionized linguistic theory, impacting cognitive psychology.

Conclusion

The Cognitive Revolution marked a significant shift in the study of the mind, moving from behaviorism to a more nuanced understanding of cognition. By exploring key concepts such as latent learning and mental maps, you can appreciate the depth of this transformation. For further exploration, consider diving into the works mentioned in the sources to deepen your knowledge of cognitive psychology and its implications in modern science.