In cognitive psychology, what do cognitive psychologists primarily study?

• A. Mental processes such as perception, attention, memory, language, and problem solving
• B. Unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences as the main drivers of behavior
• C. How reinforcement and punishment shape observable behavior without reference to internal processes
• D. The effects of hormones and neurotransmitters on the nervous system as the primary focus

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the main focus of cognitive psychology by understanding its core interest in mental processes rather than behavior alone or biological factors.
2. Recognize that cognitive psychologists study internal mental functions such as perception, attention, memory, language, and problem solving.
3. Differentiate cognitive psychology from psychoanalysis, which emphasizes unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences.
4. Distinguish cognitive psychology from behaviorism, which focuses on observable behavior shaped by reinforcement and punishment without considering internal mental states.
5. Understand that while biological psychology studies hormones and neurotransmitters, cognitive psychology primarily investigates how mental processes operate and influence behavior.