{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T07:08:14+00:00","modifiedTime":"2023-07-10T15:49:51+00:00","timestamp":"2023-07-10T18:01:05+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34038"},"slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Emotional Health & Psychology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34039"},"slug":"emotional-health-psychology","categoryId":34039},{"name":"Psychology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34053"},"slug":"psychology","categoryId":34053},{"name":"General Psychology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34076"},"slug":"general-psychology","categoryId":34076}],"title":"Cognitive Psychology's Information Processing Model","strippedTitle":"cognitive psychology's information processing model","slug":"understanding-the-information-processing-model-for-cognitive-psychology","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Cognitive psychologists use the information processing model to explain cognition. This model assumes that human cognition is a lot like a computer and the way ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Cognitive psychologists use the information processing model to explain cognition. This model assumes that human cognition is a lot like a computer and the way the human brain works is by processing information through a series of stages:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Perception: Input stage. </strong>People need to encode information from the world in order to process it and then respond to it appropriately. In part, perception is guided by experience, which changes the way people see the world. If information is attended to, it’s transferred from perception to memory.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Memory: Storage center. </strong>Information is stored in long-term memory and processed and used by short-term memory. All knowledge is stored in long-term memory.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Thinking: A high-level cognitive function. </strong>Information from perception and memory is used to make decisions, to reason and to make deductions.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Language: A high-level output stage of cognition. </strong>Often, the results of thinking need to be acted upon in terms of speaking or writing.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 535px;\">\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/504153.image0.jpg\" alt=\"The information processing model of cognition shows how information enters and leaves the mind.\" width=\"535\" height=\"209\" />\r\n<div class=\"imageCaption\">The information processing model of cognition shows how information enters and leaves the mind.</div>\r\n</div></li>\r\n</ol>","description":"Cognitive psychologists use the information processing model to explain cognition. This model assumes that human cognition is a lot like a computer and the way the human brain works is by processing information through a series of stages:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Perception: Input stage. </strong>People need to encode information from the world in order to process it and then respond to it appropriately. In part, perception is guided by experience, which changes the way people see the world. If information is attended to, it’s transferred from perception to memory.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Memory: Storage center. </strong>Information is stored in long-term memory and processed and used by short-term memory. All knowledge is stored in long-term memory.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Thinking: A high-level cognitive function. </strong>Information from perception and memory is used to make decisions, to reason and to make deductions.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>Language: A high-level output stage of cognition. </strong>Often, the results of thinking need to be acted upon in terms of speaking or writing.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 535px;\">\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/504153.image0.jpg\" alt=\"The information processing model of cognition shows how information enters and leaves the mind.\" width=\"535\" height=\"209\" />\r\n<div class=\"imageCaption\">The information processing model of cognition shows how information enters and leaves the mind.</div>\r\n</div></li>\r\n</ol>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":8958,"name":"Peter J. Hills","slug":"peter-j-hills","description":" <p><b>Dr Peter J. Hills, PhD,</b> is a principal lecturer and Head of Education in psychology at Bournemouth University. <b>Dr J Michael Pake</b> is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8958"}},{"authorId":8959,"name":"Michael Pake","slug":"michael-pake","description":" <p><b>Dr Peter J. Hills, PhD,</b> is a principal lecturer and Head of Education in psychology at Bournemouth University. <b>Dr J Michael Pake</b> is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8959"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34076,"title":"General Psychology","slug":"general-psychology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34076"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":172026,"title":"Repurposing Items for Beautiful Holiday Decorating","slug":"decorating-for-the-holidays-with-what-you-already-have","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","crafts","gifts-holidays"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/172026"}},{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":193770,"title":"How to Play Rummy: All You Need to Know","slug":"rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/193770"}},{"articleId":153792,"title":"Format Numbers in Thousands and Millions in Excel Reports","slug":"format-numbers-in-thousands-and-millions-in-excel-reports","categoryList":["technology","software","microsoft-products","excel"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/153792"}},{"articleId":147241,"title":"How to Use the Z-Table","slug":"how-to-use-the-z-table","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","math","statistics"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/147241"}}],"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":207388,"title":"Cognitive Psychology For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"cognitive-psychology-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/207388"}},{"articleId":138347,"title":"Cognitive Psychology: Classifying Long-Term Memory","slug":"cognitive-psychology-classifying-long-term-memory","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/138347"}},{"articleId":138341,"title":"Cognitive Psychology: Looking Honestly into Lying","slug":"cognitive-psychology-looking-honestly-into-lying","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/138341"}},{"articleId":138342,"title":"Cognitive Psychology: Executing Executive Function & Cognitive Control","slug":"cognitive-psychology-executing-executive-function-cognitive-control","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/138342"}},{"articleId":138343,"title":"Cognitive Psychology and Deciding to Solve Problems","slug":"cognitive-psychology-and-deciding-to-solve-problems","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/138343"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":299550,"title":"Narcissism For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"narcissism-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/299550"}},{"articleId":273560,"title":"Going Beyond Stress: The Psychology of Health","slug":"going-beyond-stress-the-psychology-of-health","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273560"}},{"articleId":273555,"title":"10 Great Psychological Movies and Shows","slug":"10-great-psychological-movies-and-shows","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273555"}},{"articleId":273547,"title":"The Organization of the Brain","slug":"the-organization-of-the-brain","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273547"}},{"articleId":273542,"title":"Biological Psychology: The Role of Cells and Chemicals","slug":"biological-psychology-the-role-of-cells-and-chemicals","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273542"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":281561,"slug":"cognitive-psychology-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119953210","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119953219/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119953219/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119953219-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119953219/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119953219/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cognitive-psychology-for-dummies-cover-9781119953210-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Cognitive Psychology For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"<p><b data-author-id=\"8958\">Dr Peter J. Hills, PhD,</b> is a principal lecturer and Head of Education in psychology at Bournemouth University. <b data-author-id=\"8959\">Dr J Michael Pake</b> is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":8958,"name":"Peter J. Hills","slug":"peter-j-hills","description":" <p><b>Dr Peter J. Hills, PhD,</b> is a principal lecturer and Head of Education in psychology at Bournemouth University. <b>Dr J Michael Pake</b> is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8958"}},{"authorId":8959,"name":"Michael Pake","slug":"michael-pake","description":" <p><b>Dr Peter J. Hills, PhD,</b> is a principal lecturer and Head of Education in psychology at Bournemouth University. <b>Dr J Michael Pake</b> is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8959"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{"key":"cat","values":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"]},{"key":"isbn","values":["9781119953210"]}]\" id=\"du-slot-64ac4761182de\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{"key":"cat","values":["body-mind-spirit","emotional-health-psychology","psychology","general-psychology"]},{"key":"isbn","values":["9781119953210"]}]\" id=\"du-slot-64ac476118b7c\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"One year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2021-12-28T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":138346},"articleLoadedStatus":"success"},"listState":{"list":{},"objectTitle":"","status":"initial","pageType":null,"objectId":null,"page":1,"sortField":"time","sortOrder":1,"categoriesIds":[],"articleTypes":[],"filterData":{},"filterDataLoadedStatus":"initial","pageSize":10},"adsState":{"pageScripts":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2024-11-22T05:50:01+00:00"},"adsId":0,"data":{"scripts":[{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script src=\"https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/10563184655.js\"></script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script>var _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1: \"2\", c2: \"15097263\" });(function() {var s = document.createElement(\"script\"), el = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0]; s.async = true;s.src = (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();</script><noscript><img src=\"https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=15097263&cv=2.0&cj=1\" /></noscript>\r\n","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n<script type='text/javascript'>\r\n(function(){var g=function(e,h,f,g){\r\nthis.get=function(a){for(var a=a+\"=\",c=document.cookie.split(\";\"),b=0,e=c.length;b<e;b++){for(var d=c[b];\" \"==d.charAt(0);)d=d.substring(1,d.length);if(0==d.indexOf(a))return d.substring(a.length,d.length)}return null};\r\nthis.set=function(a,c){var b=\"\",b=new Date;b.setTime(b.getTime()+6048E5);b=\"; expires=\"+b.toGMTString();document.cookie=a+\"=\"+c+b+\"; path=/; \"};\r\nthis.check=function(){var a=this.get(f);if(a)a=a.split(\":\");else if(100!=e)\"v\"==h&&(e=Math.random()>=e/100?0:100),a=[h,e,0],this.set(f,a.join(\":\"));else return!0;var c=a[1];if(100==c)return!0;switch(a[0]){case \"v\":return!1;case \"r\":return c=a[2]%Math.floor(100/c),a[2]++,this.set(f,a.join(\":\")),!c}return!0};\r\nthis.go=function(){if(this.check()){var a=document.createElement(\"script\");a.type=\"text/javascript\";a.src=g;document.body&&document.body.appendChild(a)}};\r\nthis.start=function(){var t=this;\"complete\"!==document.readyState?window.addEventListener?window.addEventListener(\"load\",function(){t.go()},!1):window.attachEvent&&window.attachEvent(\"onload\",function(){t.go()}):t.go()};};\r\ntry{(new g(100,\"r\",\"QSI_S_ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\",\"https://zn5o5yqpvmvjgdoun-wiley.siteintercept.qualtrics.com/SIE/?Q_ZID=ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\")).start()}catch(i){}})();\r\n</script><div id='ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN'></div>\r\n","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script>\r\n (function(h,o,t,j,a,r){\r\n h.hj=h.hj||function(){(h.hj.q=h.hj.q||[]).push(arguments)};\r\n h._hjSettings={hjid:257151,hjsv:6};\r\n a=o.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];\r\n r=o.createElement('script');r.async=1;\r\n r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv;\r\n a.appendChild(r);\r\n })(window,document,'https://static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-','.js?sv=');\r\n</script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["article"],"location":"header","script":" <script src=\"//get.s-onetag.com/bffe21a1-6bb8-4928-9449-7beadb468dae/tag.min.js\" async defer></script>","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage"],"location":"header","script":"<meta name=\"facebook-domain-verification\" content=\"irk8y0irxf718trg3uwwuexg6xpva0\" />","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage","article","category","search"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n<noscript>\r\n<img height=\"1\" width=\"1\" src=\"https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=256338321977984&ev=PageView&noscript=1\"/>\r\n</noscript>\r\n","enabled":true}]}},"pageScriptsLoadedStatus":"success"},"navigationState":{"navigationCollections":[{"collectionId":287568,"title":"BYOB (Be Your Own Boss)","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-entry-level-entrepreneur-287568"},{"collectionId":293237,"title":"Be a Rad Dad","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/be-the-best-dad-293237"},{"collectionId":295890,"title":"Career Shifting","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/career-shifting-295890"},{"collectionId":294090,"title":"Contemplating the Cosmos","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/theres-something-about-space-294090"},{"collectionId":287563,"title":"For Those Seeking Peace of Mind","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-those-seeking-peace-of-mind-287563"},{"collectionId":287570,"title":"For the Aspiring Aficionado","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-bougielicious-287570"},{"collectionId":291903,"title":"For the Budding Cannabis Enthusiast","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-budding-cannabis-enthusiast-291903"},{"collectionId":299891,"title":"For the College Bound","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-college-bound-299891"},{"collectionId":291934,"title":"For the Exam-Season Crammer","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-exam-season-crammer-291934"},{"collectionId":301547,"title":"For the Game Day Prepper","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/big-game-day-prep-made-easy-301547"}],"navigationCollectionsLoadedStatus":"success","navigationCategories":{"books":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/books/level-0-category-0"}},"articles":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/articles/level-0-category-0"}}},"navigationCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"searchState":{"searchList":[],"searchStatus":"initial","relatedArticlesList":[],"relatedArticlesStatus":"initial"},"routeState":{"name":"Article4","path":"/article/body-mind-spirit/emotional-health-psychology/psychology/general-psychology/understanding-the-information-processing-model-for-cognitive-psychology-138346/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{"category1":"body-mind-spirit","category2":"emotional-health-psychology","category3":"psychology","category4":"general-psychology","article":"understanding-the-information-processing-model-for-cognitive-psychology-138346"},"fullPath":"/article/body-mind-spirit/emotional-health-psychology/psychology/general-psychology/understanding-the-information-processing-model-for-cognitive-psychology-138346/","meta":{"routeType":"article","breadcrumbInfo":{"suffix":"Articles","baseRoute":"/category/articles"},"prerenderWithAsyncData":true},"from":{"name":null,"path":"/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{},"fullPath":"/","meta":{}}},"dropsState":{"submitEmailResponse":false,"status":"initial"},"profileState":{"auth":{},"userOptions":{},"status":"success"}}

Cognitive Psychology's Information Processing Model

By: Peter J. Hills and Michael Pake and

Updated: 07-10-2023

From The Book: Cognitive Psychology For Dummies

Cognitive Psychology For Dummies

Book image

Explore Book Buy On Amazon

Cognitive psychologists use the information processing model to explain cognition. This model assumes that human cognition is a lot like a computer and the way the human brain works is by processing information through a series of stages:

Perception: Input stage. People need to encode information from the world in order to process it and then respond to it appropriately. In part, perception is guided by experience, which changes the way people see the world. If information is attended to, it’s transferred from perception to memory.
Memory: Storage center. Information is stored in long-term memory and processed and used by short-term memory. All knowledge is stored in long-term memory.
Thinking: A high-level cognitive function. Information from perception and memory is used to make decisions, to reason and to make deductions.
Language: A high-level output stage of cognition. Often, the results of thinking need to be acted upon in terms of speaking or writing.

The information processing model of cognition shows how information enters and leaves the mind.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Cognitive Psychology For Dummies ,

About the book authors:

Dr Peter J. Hills, PhD, is a principal lecturer and Head of Education in psychology at Bournemouth University. Dr J Michael Pake is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.

This article can be found in the category:

General Psychology ,