Which approach considers the mind as a computer-like system for processing information?

The information processing approach is centered on the idea that the mind functions similarly to a computer, processing information through various stages such as encoding, storage, and retrieval. This analogy helps to understand how cognitive processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving operate. Just as a computer takes input, processes it, and produces output, the information processing approach posits that humans receive stimuli, interpret this information, and respond accordingly.

This perspective emphasizes the mechanisms involved in mental activities and how we manipulate data, focusing on internal cognitive structures and functions rather than external behavior or biological factors. The approach is foundational in cognitive psychology and helps researchers develop models that describe cognitive tasks, enabling a deeper understanding of mental processes.

Understanding the other options in context clarifies why they do not fit this question as well. For example, the behavioral approach primarily examines observable behaviors and the external factors that influence them, thus not encompassing the mental processes involved in information handling. The cognitive processing approach, while related, does not specifically emphasize the computer analogy as the information processing approach does. Finally, the biological approach focuses on the physiological underpinnings of behavior and mind, such as neurobiology and brain structures, rather than framing the mind in terms of computational processes.