Which approach to the study of cognition emphasizes interaction with the surrounding world?

The approach that emphasizes interaction with the surrounding world is embodied cognition. This perspective posits that cognitive processes are deeply rooted in the body's interactions with the environment. It suggests that our physical experiences and the sensory information we gain through our bodies significantly influence our thoughts, perceptions, and understanding.

Embodied cognition challenges traditional views that see the mind as separate from the body, instead proposing that cognitive functions are influenced by bodily experiences and the context in which they occur. This means that our actions, movements, and even our emotional states can shape how we think and understand the world around us. For example, the way we perceive an object can be affected by the actions we can take with it.

The other approaches mentioned do not primarily focus on this interaction between cognition and the physical environment. Cognitive behavioral therapy, while it incorporates behavior and cognition, primarily addresses psychological patterns and their modification. The information processing approach likens the mind to a computer, focusing on how information is received, processed, stored, and retrieved, but does not emphasize physical interactions with the environment. The constructivist approach deals with how individuals construct knowledge through experiences, but it does not specifically highlight the physical embodiment aspect as central to cognition in the same way that embodied cognition does.