In cognitive psychology, researchers primarily focus on studying which of the following?

• A. Mental processes such as perception, attention, memory, language, problem solving, and decision making
• B. How reinforcement and punishment shape observable behavior without reference to internal mental states
• C. How hormones and neurotransmitters directly regulate physiological homeostasis in the body
• D. The role of unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences in shaping personality

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the core focus of cognitive psychology, which is the study of internal mental processes rather than observable behaviors or physiological mechanisms.
2. Step 2: Identify key mental processes that cognitive psychology investigates, such as perception, attention, memory, language, problem solving, and decision making.
3. Step 3: Differentiate cognitive psychology from other psychological approaches, such as behaviorism (which focuses on reinforcement and punishment) and biological psychology (which studies hormones and neurotransmitters).
4. Step 4: Recognize that cognitive psychology does not primarily focus on unconscious conflicts or early childhood experiences, which are central to psychoanalytic theory.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct focus of cognitive psychology is on mental processes like perception, attention, memory, language, problem solving, and decision making.