Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of mental processes such as perception, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving, focusing on how people understand, diagnose, and respond to information. It emphasizes internal mental states and uses experimental methods to study how people acquire, process, and store information.
Consciousness is the state of being aware of and able to think about one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, and surroundings. It is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that has been the subject of extensive philosophical, psychological, and neuroscientific inquiry, yet remains one of the most profound mysteries of the human experience.
Intuition and reasoning are two distinct but complementary modes of thought involved in decision-making. Intuition allows for rapid, subconscious judgments, while reasoning provides a more deliberate, conscious evaluation of information.
Cognitive-Affective Processing refers to the interplay between cognitive processes and emotional responses, suggesting that emotions can influence cognitive functions such as perception, memory, and decision-making, and vice versa. This dynamic interaction is crucial for understanding how individuals process information and respond to their environment, impacting behavior and mental health.
Cognitive Science of Religion (CSR) is an interdisciplinary field that explores how human cognitive processes shape and are shaped by religious beliefs and practices. It leverages insights from psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience to understand the universal cognitive mechanisms that give rise to religious thought across cultures.
The affective heuristic is a mental shortcut wherein people rely on their emotions to make judgments and decisions quickly, often leading to errors in reasoning. It demonstrates how emotions can heavily influence our perceptions of risk, benefits, and the overall decision-making process.
Intuition in decision making involves drawing on past experiences and subconscious understanding to make judgments quickly and effectively, bypassing analytical deliberation. While it can be highly beneficial in situations requiring swift action, reliance on intuition alone may lead to biases and errors when handling complex problems.
Unconscious cognition refers to mental processes occurring outside of conscious awareness that influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It plays a crucial role in decision-making, intuition, and problem-solving, offering insights into how much of the mind works behind the scenes.
Automatic processes are mental activities that occur without conscious awareness or intention, allowing individuals to perform tasks efficiently while conserving cognitive resources. These processes are crucial for handling routine tasks and freeing up attentional capacity for more complex or novel activities.