In cognitive psychology, cognition is generally thought to be governed primarily by which of the following?

• A. Inherited reflex patterns that operate independently of learning and context
• B. Mental processes such as perception, attention, memory, and reasoning that involve information processing
• C. Observable stimulus-response associations without reference to internal mental states
• D. Unconscious sexual and aggressive drives as the primary determinants of behavior

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of cognition in cognitive psychology. Cognition refers to the mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
2. Step 2: Recognize that cognitive psychology focuses on internal mental processes rather than just observable behaviors or reflexes. This includes processes like perception, attention, memory, and reasoning.
3. Step 3: Evaluate each option by considering whether it emphasizes internal mental processes or external behaviors/reflexes. For example, inherited reflex patterns and observable stimulus-response associations focus on external or automatic responses, not cognition.
4. Step 4: Identify that unconscious drives (such as sexual and aggressive drives) are more related to psychoanalytic theory rather than cognitive psychology, which centers on information processing.
5. Step 5: Conclude that cognition is primarily governed by mental processes involving information processing, such as perception, attention, memory, and reasoning, which aligns with the core focus of cognitive psychology.