Memory

• Cognitive psychologists believe that human behaviour can best be explained if we first understand the mental processes that underlie behaviour.
• It is therefore the study of how people learn, structure, store and use knowledge- essentially how people think about the world around them.
• Why is memory important?

  -Case studies of brain damaged patients have shown that memory is vital for learning.

  -Without memory, no learning would take place.

  -Memory is used for remembering how to do things such as catch a bus or ride a bike.

  -It is also important for talking to friends and remembering prices.

  -Without memory...… we wouldn't be human!
• Cognitive Psychology

  Based on the computer metaphor i.e. we try to understand the mind by comparing it to a computer:

  INFORMATIONAL PROCESSING MODEL

  input -> processing -> output

  |

  storage