Cognition in Personality and the Treatment Process—A Psychoanalytic View

IN 1955, THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO CONVENED A SYMPOSIUM to discuss cognition because the sponsors believed, "For a long time psychology in America has slighted what may be considered to be its ultimate purpose, the scientific understanding of man's cognitive behavior" (Bruner et al., 1957, p. v). To compensate for this slight, leaders of the day were invited to discuss cognition. Several theoretical views were represented, including that of psychoanalysis by David Rapaport.

Following this symposium, research flourished under the label of "the new look in perception." What was it that was new? An attempt was being made to correlate cognition, needs, and personality. Among the leaders of this "new look" were psychoanalytically trained psychologists, notably George Klein, Philip Holzman, and Robert Holt. At about the same time, Piaget's writings were beginning to receive attention in this country, and researchers following Piaget also launched studies of cognition. In contrast to investigators wearing the "new look," Piagetian researchers were studying cognition as a domain separate from personality and needs.