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Cognitive psychology examines internal mental processes such as memory, perception, learning and language, and is concerned with how people understand, diagnose, and solve problems and make decisions. Cognitive psychologists focus upon how people attain, process and recall information. During the first half of the 20th century, behaviorism, which focused on visible, observable behavior, was the most dominant school of thought in psychology. However, during the 1950s, 60s and 70s cognitive psychology began to gain prominence as scientists began to see the limits of behaviorism. Cognitive psychologists generally favor the gathering of empirical data from scientific research methods instead of through clinically based observation (such as in the field of psychoanalysis) to reach conclusions and state their case. However, because cognitive psychology is a vast and diverse field, clinical observation can be useful in generating hypotheses for further research. Cognitive psychologists perform the following duties: - Conduct research on the human thought process
- Teach at colleges and universities
- Work at government agencies
- Work as human factors consultants or industrial-organizational managers
- Study the human brain and memory in relation to computers
- Work with Alzheimer's or memory-loss patients
- Work with children to understand memory formation
- Teach language skills and problem solving
- Work in the legal system and study the mental processes of criminals, witnesses, juries and judges
 Work Environment Cognitive psychologists work in many different settings, from classroom to laboratory, government office to neuroscience facility. One thing is certain: cognitive psychology is a career that requires copious amounts of research, data and statistics. Your day will be spent working in a collaborative capacity with other psychologists of all persuasions, neuroscientists, linguists, computer scientists, and other cognitive science professionals who are intent upon understanding how our brains function and why we learn and behave as we do. Everything from brain imaging to psychometrics—the interpretation of quantitative tests for the measurement of intelligence, aptitude, and personality traits—will be incorporated into your daily work environment. Training In order to become a cognitive psychologist, you'll need to have your doctorate in cognitive psychology in order to practice. A cognitive psychology PhD is an intense program and generally takes at least four to five years to complete. You will also be required to work in an internship with a qualified cognitive psychologist prior to beginning work on your own. Courses that will pertain specifically to your cognitive psychology degree will include cognitive learning, neuroscience, advanced social psychology and life-span development, as well as advanced research methods training that will include statistics, psychometrics and structural equations. Learn More About Psychology Careers in this Side-by-Side Comparison Chart  |
 
Did You Know?- The cognitive "revolution" was an intellectual movement that started the cognitive sciences in the 1950s. This movement combined psychology, anthropology, philosophy and linguistics with approaches developed within the newly-emerging fields of artificial intelligence, computer science and neuroscience. It was also a true counterrevolution to what many scientists increasingly perceived as the dogma of behaviorism, which had a firm grip on all psychological inquiry during the first half of the 20th century.
- Swiss philosopher and psychologist Jean Piaget is considered one of the founders of cognitive psychology. He worked with barely-talking children and discovered that behind their babbling and nonsensical utterances were thought processes that had their own special logic and order. His insight opened a door to the workings of the human mind. Albert Einstein claimed Piaget's discovery "was so simple that only a genius could have thought of it."
Salary Data According to the 2009 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual salary was $86,540 for those working as a cognitive psychologist. College instructors generally earn between $55,000 to $60,000 and it is predicted that job growth in this field will grow slightly through 2013. |
