The Cognitive Revolution

What was it?

The Cognitive Revolution, emerging prominently in the 1950s and 1960s, marked a transformative shift in psychology, away from behaviourism’s narrow focus on observable actions towards a more profound exploration of the human mind. Spearheaded by pioneers like George A. Miller (who in 1956 published “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two”), Noam Chomsky (whose 1959 critique of B.F. Skinner’s Verbal Behavior challenged behaviourist views of language), and Ulric Neisser (whose 1967 book Cognitive Psychology gave the movement its name), this revolution redefined psychology as the scientific study of mental processes, such as attention, memory, language, reasoning, and problem-solving. The significance of this development cannot be overstated. By illuminating the inner workings of thought, it laid the foundation for modern cognitive therapies, educational advances, and human–computer interaction. At a personal level, it empowered individuals to better understand and manage their own thoughts and emotions, leading to greater mental resilience. On a societal level, it helped foster empathy, more effective communication, and data-informed approaches to mental health, ultimately contributing to a more psychologically aware and compassionate world. Psychology today faces the challenge of another transformative shift, away from the limited focus of a merely psycho-physical emphasis towards a more comprehensive exploration of human personhood. This might best be termed ‘The Spiritual Revolution in Psychology’. Amongst the many contributions of a specifically Christian psychology, recognition of the transformative power of the Gospel in personal development, and the expansion of the science’s epistemological base to include revelation, are paramount.