Psychologists define the cognitive sphere as a set of mental processes designed to fulfill the function of rational cognition. This term was introduced in the 60s of the last century. Then, on the wave of large-scale development of cybernetics and the widespread enthusiasm for this science, the comparison of a person with a complex biocomputer became popular. With varying success, attempts have been made to model human psychological processes.
The cognitive realm is something that lends itself to modeling. The sphere with which this technique did not work was called affective.
The concept and essence of the cognitive sphere
Today in psychological practice, under the phrase “cognitive sphere of personality”, experts understand several psychological processes that proceed in accordance with a logical and meaningful sequence, the purpose of which is to process information.
That is, we can talk about this area only if the data processing is characterized by logic and rationality.
Traditionally, this area is associated with memory, attention, perception, understanding, thinking, decision-making, actions and influences (however, only when it comes to cognitive processes, and not entertainment or attraction). With a certain simplification, it can be argued that the cognitive sphere is a combination of competence and knowledge, skills.
In more detail about rational and emotional mechanisms of perception
The cognitive sphere is a kind of synonym for rational perception, which manifests itself as a critical, analytical assessment.
The direct opposite of the rational type of cognition is intuition, that is, a pure, lively impression. Any term becomes more understandable when the definition is supported by illustrations: despite the fact that ice cream is tasty and you really want to buy it, a person does not eat these sweets on the street in winter, as he can get sick. This conclusion is the result of rational reflection.
When a rational mechanism of understanding is activated, it involves concepts and logic. While emotional, bodily, and emotional ways of understanding involve empathy, empathy, and feeling.
Therefore, in order to have a rational impact, they use various methods of persuasion and explanation (they turn to reason and logic). Irrational methods are used for suggestion, emotional infection, anchoring and other techniques.
The interaction and interdependence of the two spheres
Given that each person has integrity, its main areas (emotional, cognitive) perform their specific functions, complementing each other.
In everyday life, most people get used to do with feelings and acquired habits, they trust automatisms. However, if necessary, rational thinking with its logic and concepts is activated.
Scientists are still studying the development of the cognitive, emotional sphere and the features of their functioning. As for rational methods of cognition, in their classification and description, science has advanced quite far.
It is extremely difficult to model affective processes because of their unpredictability. These include emotions associated with a sensual attitude to life, interaction with the world, with oneself and society. True, there are a number of mental processes, the occurrence of which is regulated by specific laws. Then they talk about the study of the cognitive component of these emotions.
Human cognitive sphere: structure and meaning
Due to the presence and proper functioning of this sphere, people have the ability to perceive, process and remember information. In other words, the cognitive sphere is a mechanism that allows learning and applying acquired knowledge.
It includes the following components:
- Memory.
- Imagination.
- Attention.
A detailed description of these abilities, their types and functions will be given below.
Memory Characterization and Definition
Memory refers to a person’s ability to preserve and accumulate information about the world around him. If this mechanism did not exist, people would constantly have to perceive all events and phenomena as if they were happening for the first time. Memory allows you to reduce brain energy consumption for the assessment of constant or repeating factors, as well as adapt to circumstances with minimal stress.
Thus, memory is responsible for what a person stores, remembers and then, if necessary, reproduces his individual experience.
Types of memory
Depending on what parts of the brain and organs of the human body are involved in the process of memorization, they distinguish:
- Motor memory - automatic movements. She is responsible for developing useful skills that are used often enough. The purpose of this mechanism is to increase efficiency and accelerate motor processes. People use motor memory to drive cars, write words, play musical instruments, and even walk.
- The emotional form of memory is the memorization of emotional states that accompany certain situations. This mechanism is designed to complement other types of memory. The preservation of emotions and reactions allows a person to strive for one event and avoid others.
- Figurative memory, in which there is a saving of data on visual, auditory, taste, olfactory and other images. This type of memory is considered professional, since the intensity of its development depends on human activity.
- Verbal-logical, the object of which thoughts become. It is carried out thanks to the presence of words.
- Arbitrary and involuntary memory. Their difference is that during the storage of information, a person can understand why he needs this information, or remember them in a random order.
- Short-term, operational and long-term memory. The first provides information storage in literally fractions of a second, the second provides access to intermediate results in the course of solving current problems, and the latter is the accumulation of data for the future.
The listed types of memory, as features of the cognitive sphere, function in close interconnection with each other.
Imagination is truly human ability
One of the most important differences in the activities of humans and animals is that people design (present) the final result of their actions before undertaking anything. This is due to an ability such as imagination. It provides people with the opportunity to create an image of an object that is not in the real world, to hold it, and even more to manipulate it.
The development of the cognitive sphere in general and imagination in particular is important for generating decisions in the absence of complete information. With the ability to design theoretical models, people can not only imagine the final result of actions, but also “see” intermediate products.
Types of imagination and their characteristics
The main parameters that describe the imagination are considered activity and effectiveness.
Often it acts as an integral element of creative activity, that is, participates in the transformation of the surrounding reality. This is an active imagination.
In contrast, a passive look is distinguished, which is distinguished by unrealistic or impracticable projects. People who seek to distract from reality resort to passive imagination. They can create images and chart behaviors that can never be realized.
Inadvertent imagination is activated at the moment of weakening of control over consciousness (dreams, hallucinations).
Attention and its varieties
The characterization of the cognitive sphere would not be complete without a description of such a phenomenon as attention. It accompanies almost all types of human activity: provides a clear and effective perception, memory or thinking.
The main task of attention is that it selects and limits the active stimuli. It also provides concentration and concentration of mental activity. In other words, it helps the subject focus on the subject.
There are several types of attention :
- Involuntary. It is the most simple and natural, as it appears without effort on the part of man.
- Arbitrary It requires a manifestation of the will to concentrate on the chosen goal, as well as crowding out disturbing thoughts and promptings.
- After an arbitrary. Its peculiarity is that it is the result of arbitrary attention, but is consciously maintained.
As a rule, the post-spontaneous type is caused by a deep and steady interest in what happens and what will be obtained as a result.
Like various types of memory, types of attention are usually tightly connected with each other, they can pass and flow into each other.