Abstract: Need for Cognition (NFC) refers to“the tendency for an individual to engage in and enjoy thinking” (Cacioppo & Petty, 1982). As one of cognitive motivations, the researchers consider that NFC influences the disposition of individuals’ information processing. According to the nearest 30 years relevant research abroad, NFC has an impact on individuals’ information processing mainly on the aspects of the endeavoring effort, self-determination and results applying. In the end, the paper looks forward to the study trends of the future researches and discusses the existing shortcomings of the present researches from the aspects of the measuring of NFC, the controlling of irrelevant variables, the duration and stability of influence, and the loading of emotional factors.

Key words: Need for Cognition (NFC), cognitive motivation, information processing, disposition