What aspect of behavior does cognitive psychology primarily focus on?

Cognitive psychology primarily focuses on thought processes and mental functions, including how people perceive, think, remember, and learn. This branch of psychology examines how individuals process information, how they solve problems, and how they make decisions. Cognitive psychologists investigate mental processes such as perception, memory, language, and reasoning, emphasizing the role of internal cognitive processes in understanding behavior. This perspective is crucial for understanding how individuals interpret and respond to their environment, as it highlights the importance of the mind's workings in shaping behavior.

In contrast, emotional responses would pertain more closely to affective or emotional psychology rather than cognitive processes. Behavioral patterns in groups involve social psychology, which examines how individuals behave in a social context. Likewise, social interactions are studied within social psychology, focusing on how individuals influence and are influenced by others. Each of these areas captures unique dimensions of human behavior, but they do not encompass the core focus of cognitive psychology on internal mental processes.