DEFINITION:
The phrase “need for cognition” refers to the personality trait of actively seeking relevant knowledge, as opposed to being cognitively apathetic or satisfied with unexamined assumptions or formulaic thinking.
Individuals with a strong “need for cognition” enjoy the process of thinking.
ETYMOLOGY:
For the etymology of the word “need,” see the Glossary article, need for autonomy.
The English noun “cognition” is attested from the fifteenth century. It derives, via the Middle English word cognicioun, from the Classical Latin noun cognitio, cognitiōnis, meaning “knowledge of” or “acquaintance with.” Cognitio itself is related to the past participle cognitus of the verb cognosco, cognoscere, meaning “to become acquainted with,” “to get to know,” or “to learn.”
DISCUSSION:
Individuals who score high for a “need for cognition” are highly motivated to acquire the knowledge they require to perform their duties properly.
Such people are thoughtful, striving to deliberate with care about the problems they confront before taking action, and then proceeding on the basis of the best available information.
Individuals who are strong in “need for cognition” are not easily persuaded by emotionally charged rhetoric or fallacious arguments.
Generally speaking, they are also more highly motivated to succeed in their appointed tasks than those with a weaker “need for cognition.” This is especially true of individuals working in technical fields, but it is by no means limited to them.