What are the main components of the cognitive approach in psychology?

The cognitive approach in psychology primarily focuses on understanding internal mental processes such as perception, memory, thinking, and problem-solving. It posits that these mental processes influence behavior and can be studied scientifically. This approach highlights how people perceive the world, think about information, and make decisions, offering insight into the workings of the mind. It aims to create models of thought processes that can be tested and refined, contributing significantly to areas such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and educational psychology.

Other choices involve different approaches in psychology. Emotional responses connect more closely to the emotional or behavioral approaches, which focus on human emotions and behaviors rather than cognitive processes. Socio-cultural influences pertain to the social and cultural context of behavior, often explored in social psychology, and genetic predispositions relate to biological psychology focusing on inherited traits and the role of genetics in behavior. While these are important concepts in their own right, they do not align with the core focus of the cognitive approach.