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Cognitive Psychology and assumptions

Cognitive psychology studies the mind and cognition in terms of information processing and cognitive models through scientific methods. It assumes that:

Although mental processes cannot be directly observed they should be studied scientifically. To do so we view the brain as a information processor computer to formulate testable theories and carry out experiments. Sensory input is received and interpreted through different cognitive processes, producing a response or behavior.

Mediational processes such as thinking, memory, attention, etc., occur between an input and an output, affecting the response.

Mental representations such as schemas guide behaviors, where an input is processed alongside past experiences and knowledge to produce an output, as well as cognitive misers or mental shortcuts to not overload the brain.

Cogntition

The sum of mental structures and processes used to receive sensory inputs, store, interpret and use information, such as attention, perception, memory, decision-making, etc.

Schema Theory

Schema Theory is an information organization theory, and suggests that new information is processed against past exper and then organized into schemas.

Types of Memory

Explicit memory is a type of long-term memory that uses conscious thinking for recall.

Semantic memory is a type of explicit memory that consciously recalls general world knowledge, facts and trivia.

Episodic memory is a type of explicit memory that consciously recalls events.

Implicit memory is a type of long-term memory that is unconsciously remembered and recalls skills, habits, and response.

Procedural memory is a type of implicit memory learned through repetition that unconsciously recalls how to do things, like playing guitar.

Emotional memory is a type of implicit memory learned through conditioning that unconsciously recalls events with a high emotional response or produces automatic emotional responses to certain stimuli, like feeling anxious around dogs since you were bitten as a kid.

Memory in General

Memory is an active reconstructive process rather than passive reproduction, where various cognitive processes are used to lessen cognitive load and simplify information, it is not an exact copy of information, but a reconstruction influenced by schema and emotion, and every time we recall information it changes. This leads to distortion and forgetting, but not always as life is repetitive and schema fill gaps. Similarly, memory can be influenced via cognitive biases such as leading words.