A characteristic feature of information-processing psychologists is that they are most likely to:

• A. Compare the mind to a computer in order to understand how information is encoded, stored, and retrieved.
• B. Study observable behaviors without reference to mental processes.
• C. Focus primarily on the influence of unconscious drives and childhood experiences.
• D. Emphasize the role of genetic inheritance and biological processes in behavior.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the core focus of information-processing psychology, which is to study how humans perceive, encode, store, and retrieve information, similar to how a computer processes data.
2. Step 2: Recognize that information-processing psychologists use the computer as a metaphor for the mind, emphasizing mental processes rather than just observable behaviors.
3. Step 3: Differentiate this approach from behaviorism, which studies only observable behaviors without considering mental processes.
4. Step 4: Note that information-processing psychology is distinct from psychoanalytic approaches, which focus on unconscious drives and childhood experiences.
5. Step 5: Also distinguish it from biological psychology, which emphasizes genetic and biological influences on behavior rather than cognitive processes.