Cognitive Style

Cognitive Style is made up of the information processing methods of an individual. It is not focused on the specific decisions that a person makes but the mental processes that are used to make the decisions. People vary in cognitive style and how they perceive, gather, process, and recall information. Methods of problem solving are also components in cognitive style and differing styles can be used to describe different personality types.

Cognitive styles can influence social interactions and attitudes. Research has shown that it is easier to learn from a person who has a similar cognitive style to you. A common example can be seen in students. Some people are more visual learners and benefit from images, slides, and graphics in order to learn new information. Others benefit more from auditory information, such as listening to their teacher lecture.