What does cognition encompass?

Cognition encompasses a range of internal mental activities that include various processes such as reasoning, problem-solving, language comprehension and production, memory, and decision-making. These activities represent how individuals interpret and understand the world around them, how they form thoughts, and how they communicate those thoughts effectively.

The other options outline different aspects of human behavior and response but do not fully capture the essence of cognition. Emotional responses are more aligned with affective psychology and do not encompass the intellectual processes involved in cognition. Instinctual behaviors focus on innate responses and do not reflect the complex, learned processes involved in thought. The ability to impose social norms relates more to social psychology and group behavior rather than the internal mental processes that define cognition. Thus, focusing on internal cognitive activities is why the correct answer lies within the scope of reasoning, language, and similar functions, firmly placing cognition at the core of understanding human thought and behavior.